Russian Senator says peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh prevent possible genocide of civilians

YEREVAN, April 21. /ARKA/. Russia guarantees assistance to Armenia in ensuring its security in cases if its integrity, independence and sovereignty are threatened, Russian Senator Viktor Bondarev wrote it in his telegram channel.

"We cooperate through the CSTO and guarantee assistance in ensuring Armenia's security in cases if there is a threat to its integrity, independence and sovereignty. The Russian military base in Armenian Gyumri is an outpost for protection of the Asian region from external aggression," Bondarev wrote.

He recalled that when the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh and neighboring disputed territories flared up again in the autumn of 2020, Russia made an invaluable and decisive contribution to its peaceful settlement.

"Now the Russian peacekeeping contingent stationed in Nagorno-Karabakh ensures compliance with the ceasefire agreement, prevents the recurrence of hostilities, and prevents the possible genocide of civilians. In fact, thanks to the foreign policy vector chosen by our president, Russia has regained its centuries-old status of a defender country. The peoples whose troubles and problems are ignored by the world community rely now on Russia and its leader," Bondarev wrote.

On September 27, 2020, Azerbaijani armed forces, backed by Turkey and foreign mercenaries and terrorists, attacked Nagorno-Karabakh along the entire front line using rocket and artillery weapons, heavy armored vehicles, military aircraft and prohibited types of weapons such as cluster bombs and  phosphorus weapons.

After 44 days of the war, on November 9, the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a statement on the cessation of all hostilities. According to the document, a Russian peacekeeping contingent was deployed along the contact line in Nagorno-Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor, which connects Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh. -0-