Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to end fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan after border clashes killed at least 49 Armenian soldiers and raised fears of another fully-fledged war in former Soviet Union. Russia, United States and France called for restraint after most deadly fighting since Armenia and Azerbaijan waged a six-week war over disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020. Armenia said several towns near border with Azerbaijan, including Jermuk, Goris and Kapan were shelled in early hours of Tuesday. Yerevan said it had responded to what it called a “large-scale provocation” by Azerbaijan. Baku said it was attacked by Armenia.

Reuters was unable to immediately verify battlefield accounts from either side. “It is difficult to overestimate role of Russian Federation, role of Putin personally,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. “President is naturally making every effort to help deescalate tensions at border,” Peskov said. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan accused Azerbaijan of attacking Armenian towns because it did not want to negotiate over status of Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave which is inside Azerbaijan but mainly populated by ethnic Armenians. He said intensity of hostilities had decreased but attacks from Azerbaijan continued. Both Russia and United States, at loggerheads over Ukraine war called on Baku and Yerevan to observe restraint. Defence ministers of Armenia and Russia agreed to take steps to stabilise situation on border. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu talked to his Azeri counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov and called for Armenia to “cease its provocations”. Charles Michel, president of European Council, also urged Pashinyan to prevent further escalation. France will bring up clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan at UN Security Council, office of President Emmanuel Macron said, adding that Macron continued to urge both sides to stick to a ceasefire.

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 14 2022

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