October 30, 2020 - 12:29 AMT
Russia not denying risk of "infiltration" of mercenaries from Karabakh zone

The Russian Foreign Ministry does not deny the danger of Syrian and Libyan mercenaries "infiltrating" into Russia from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.

"It is certainly impossible to deny such a danger," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

"There are no trivia in the fight against terrorism. It is important to analyze all the risks, including potential ones, to work proactively. Russian law enforcement agencies are closely monitoring the situation and, as they say, keeping their finger on the pulse."

In the war against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), the Turkish armed forces are supporting Azerbaijan militarily, also by transferring mercenaries from Libya and Syria to fight against Karabakh. Armenia was the first to report on Turkey's deployment of thousands of Syrian fighters to Azerbaijan. International media publications followed suit, as did reactions from France, Russia, Iran and Syria.

Azerbaijan, with help from Turkey and Syrian and Libyan mercenaries deployed by Ankara, started a war against Karabakh (Artsakh) in the morning of September 27. The Armenian side has reported deaths and injuries both among the civilian population and the military. Foreign and local journalists too have been injured in Azeri shelling of towns and villages.