Russian Foreign Ministry says Karabakh refugees can return to their homes

YEREVAN, 17 October. /ARKA/. Russia really empathies with the fate of people who have left their homes, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said commenting on the forced exodus of the ethnic Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh.
 
‘Some of them have their loved ones and relatives buried there, their whole history is connected with this place. This is a colossal tragedy, which has many aspects and nuances,’ Zakharova noted at a press briefing on Wednesday.
 
According to her, this issue has been repeatedly commented and emphasized, it is raised in contacts with Azerbaijani colleagues.
 
‘The possibility of return was provided, however, what was done was done. The opportunity for return was and is available, and if people want to use this opportunity to keep their homes, it is there,’ Zakharova said.
 
She urged to ask the Armenian authorities what they are doing to ensure the safe return of Nagorno-Karabakh residents to their homes.
 
On Azerbaijan's ethnic cleansing in Karabakh 

On 19-20 September 2023, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale aggression against Nagorno-Karabakh using artillery, UAVs and combat aviation.

On 28 September, following negotiations with the Azerbaijani side, Karabakh president Samvel Shahramanyan issued a decree to dissolve all state institutions. From 1 January 2024 the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) ceased to exist.
 
The residents of Karabakh were forced to leave their homeland and moved to Armenia. According to the Armenian Government, more than 115 thousand Karabakh residents have been registered. To assist them, the Government of Armenia implements a number of programs. -0-