In Nagorno-Karabakh, armed forces of breakaway Artsakh Republic surrender weapons and military equipment to Azerbaijani military

The armed forces of the breakaway Republic of Artsakh, established in Nagorno-Karabakh with the support of the Armenian government, have started transferring their weapons and military equipment to the Azerbaijani army, as stipulated by the cease-fire agreement reached by Baku and Yerevan on September 20.

On September 19, Baku launched a massive strike on Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave of Azerbaijan predominantly populated by ethnic Armenians, using artillery and combat drones but describing the attack as a “local anti-terrorist operation.”

According to the Artsakh Ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan, 200 people were killed in Nagorno-Karabakh over the next day. This number included 10 civilians, five of whom were children. In addition, 40 civilian residents received injuries.

On September 20, the president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev declared, in a public address, that Baku had “restored its sovereignty” in the region. The cease-fire agreement with Armenia compelled Yerevan to withdraw its troops from Nagorno-Karabakh, and also dissolved the government established by the Republic of Artsakh in Stepanakert.

The Russian news agency RIA Novosti reports, citing Russia’s Defense Ministry, that humanitarian aid is being delivered to Nagorno-Karabakh via the Lachin Corridor as well as other routes. According to the Russian ministry, 50 tons of supplies have already reached the area.