New commander of Russian peacekeepers in Artsakh appointed

YEREVAN, September 25. /ARKA/. Armenian Defense Minister Arshak Karapetyan received on Saturday the two ex-commanders of the Russian peacekeepers in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) - Lieutenant General Rustam Muradov and Major General Mikhail Kosobokov as well as Lieutenant General Gennady Anashkin, the Armenian Defense Ministry said.

Lieutenant General Rustam Muradov who now serves as Deputy Commander of the Southern Military District of Russia, introduced the newly appointed Commander of the Russian Peacekeeping Forces in Artsakh, National Hero of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General Gennady Anashkin.

Anashkin has replaced Kosobokov, who was appointed as commander of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Artsakh in early September.

Armenian Minister of Defense congratulated Gennady Anashkin on assuming his new position and wished him success in fulfilling his peacekeeping mission. He thanked the former commander of the peacekeeping forces Mikhail Kosobokov for his service and wished him success in his future activities.

The parties highly appreciated the efforts of the Russian Federation to stabilize the military-political situation in the region and expressed satisfaction with the effectiveness of the Russian peacekeeping mission in Artsakh. They also exchanged views on regional security issues. -0-