Continued Gunfire Emerges in Nagorno-Karabakh Despites Ceasefire Efforts

Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh have accused Azerbaijan's military of breaking a ceasefire mediated by Russia. Social media footage from the capital of the breakaway region showed gunfire. However, Azerbaijan denied these reports, calling them "completely false." The two sides are currently in talks to negotiate the integration of the enclave into Azerbaijan after Karabakh forces agreed to surrender following intense fighting. Despite the ceasefire, Armenian forces claimed that Azerbaijan was using various weapons, thus violating the agreement. Videos showed people seeking shelter in the city and the sound of small-arms gunfire in the background. Independent observers have been unable to access the territory since Azerbaijan imposed a blockade in December 2022. Azerbaijan's defense ministry swiftly denied these reports, stating that fighting had not resumed. Meanwhile, Armenian and Azerbaijani delegations met to discuss Nagorno-Karabakh's future. Azerbaijan aims to fully control the breakaway region, which is recognized internationally as part of Azerbaijan and where approximately 120,000 ethnic Armenians reside. The agreement requires local Karabakh forces to disband and disarm, while Armenian forces must withdraw, despite their government denying any military presence there. Armenians fear that Azerbaijan's control could result in ethnic cleansing and force Karabakh Armenians to flee. However, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev assured that his country has no issue with the population, only with their "criminal junta." Russia reported that its peacekeepers had evacuated around 5,000 people from dangerous areas since the offensive began, with four peacekeepers, including the mission's deputy commander, being killed in shelling. Azerbaijan's President expressed condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin and pledged to conduct an investigation into the deaths.