Kremlin Acknowledges Withdrawal from Nagorno-Karabakh Region
Iran "No Comment" on Prior Notification of Israel Attack
It has been confirmed that Russian peacekeepers are withdrawing from the Nagorno-Karabakh region, a conflict zone between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, acknowledged on the 17th (local time) during a briefing that reports from Azerbaijani media stating that Russian peacekeepers have begun withdrawing are "true."
Previously, Russia stationed peacekeepers in the Nagorno-Karabakh region after mediating peace negotiations following the six-week war between Azerbaijan and Armenia in September 2020. This region is internationally recognized as Azerbaijani territory, but ethnic Armenian residents had occupied it for about 30 years by establishing a self-proclaimed republic.
However, in September last year, Azerbaijan occupied Nagorno-Karabakh through a large-scale airstrike, causing approximately 100,000 ethnic Armenian residents to flee to Armenia. Armenia protested at the time, claiming that Russia did not support them.
Armenia is a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a military and security alliance led by Russia. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed dissatisfaction in February by not appointing a permanent representative to the CSTO and not participating in high-level events.
Spokesperson Peskov also declined to confirm or deny whether Iran, which has close ties with Russia, was warned in advance before it launched an airstrike on Israel on the 13th, saying, "I have nothing to say on this matter."
He emphasized, "I do not want to comment on the escalating tensions in this conflict. This does not serve the interests of Israel, Iran, or the entire region," and urged all countries in the Middle East to exercise reasonable restraint. He added, "Russia continues to maintain close and constructive working contacts with Iran and also has constructive communications with Israel," and "We are discussing the necessity of de-escalation."
Earlier, Iran retaliated against Israel on the 13th and 14th using drones and missiles after its consulate in Syria was bombed by Israel on the 1st. Israel is considering a counter-retaliatory strike against Iran.
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