Category: 2020

 11:24,

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani military is bombarding the city of Stepanakert and the towns of Shushi and Martakert in Artsakh using the Smerch heavy multiple rocket launchers, the Ministry of Defense of Artsakh said.

“Once again violating the requirements of international humanitarian and customary laws, Azerbaijan has opened fire exclusively on peaceful settlements, leading to victims among the civilian population of Artsakh. The Azerbaijani military-political leadership is committing another war crime. The Azerbaijani criminal regime bears entire responsibility for the further escalation of the situation,” the Defense Ministry said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 11:53,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Head of the opposition Bright Armenia faction of the Parliament Edmon Marukyan calls on Armenians living abroad to be cautious and not to give in to provocations of Turks and Azerbaijanis.

“I want to call on our compatriots living in different countries to be as cautious as possible, not to give in to any Turkish-Azerbaijani provocation”, he said during parliamentary briefings, reminding the October 28 incident in France when Turks attack Armenian peaceful protesters with a knife.

At night Turks in France went to the streets looking for Armenians, voicing threats. “In general, transferring the conflict from the battle field to other places is impermissible. I call on our compatriots to be cautious and refrain from any actions which can lead to confrontation. We are in war, the war is taking place in the frontline, outside of this we cannot endanger the peaceful way of life of Armenians”, he said.

Reporting by Anna Grigoryan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 12:00,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. A mob of hundreds of Turkish nationalists took to the streets overnight in Lyon, France searching for Armenians and chanting death threats. The incident follows the attack on a peaceful Armenian demonstration earlier on October 28.

A Lyon citizen, Natali Bianco, said on social media that the Turkish mob was armed with baseball bats, pipes and other improvised weapons. “In just a few minutes we saw how hundreds of Turkish young people were causing chaos in the city center, waving flags, baseball bats, pipes and smoke. They stormed into the city center chanting “death to Armenians”, “Allah Akbar”, and other slogans. They were obviously looking to start a fight and were threatening passersby who were daring to even look at them.”

Many of them were gesturing the sign of the Grey Wolves, the Turkish ultranationalist organization. Police were dispatched to the scene. The eyewitness said she was “shocked” from the half-hour long “war”.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 12:03,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Secretary General of the Organization of American States Luis Almagro is sure that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict will end immediately if Azerbaijan stops its attacks against Artsakh.

“Aggression against Artsakh should stop now”, he said on Twitter.

The OAS Secretary General shared the post of Ombudsman of Artsakh Artak Beglaryan where he informed that on October 28 Azerbaijan targeted the maternity hospital in Stepanakert.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 12:09,

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani military continues bombarding towns and cities of Artsakh, striking the peaceful residential areas with various weapons, including missiles and bombs.

Photos showing the aftermath of the recent bombing were released by the Artsakh State Service of Emergency Situations. The images show the town of Martakert, which the Azeri air force bombed with air strikes. Heavy damages took place. No casualties were reported among the civilians.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 12:32,

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Defense of Artsakh released the list of military facilities that constitute legitimate military targets deployed in Azerbaijani cities. 

In Ganja, the Azeri military has deployed the following facilities:

Air Force military airbase, helicopter squadron

Permanenet Deployment Location of Armed Forces General Staff Motor Rifle Brigade

Interior Troops Special Operations Brigade

Defense Ministry Combat Command Center

Armed Forces General Staff Radio-Technocal Battalion

Defense Ministry Fuel-Lubricant Base

Machinery plant of the Defense Industry Ministry, Aviation Repair Plant and Artillery Armament Repair Plant

In Barda, the Azeri military has deployed the following facilities:

Command Center of 1st Army Corps

Service Battalion

Communications Battalion

Anti-aircraft division

Tank brigade

Anti-tank division

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 12:43,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Following the creation of the legislation on militia in Armenia, the first units of the militia have already been formed in Tavush province.

The Tavush Governor’s Office stated that this is a strict necessity in the province, especially during the current war situation in Artsakh. Thanks to the militia, the bordering villages will be safer and more secure.

“After the Prime Minister’s call, the creation of voluntary units has started quite actively in Tavush province. In past days we managed to form the first big unit consisting of 3 battalions which are engaged in combat and firefighting training these days. Several more such units will be also formed. This is also putting a base for the creation of militia”, Tavush Governor Hayk Chobanyan said.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 13:01,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. The death toll in the Azerbaijani army has reached 6854 as a result of the large-scale aggression and military operations launched against Artsakh, the Armenian Unified Info Center said.

As for the military equipment, the Azerbaijani losses include 226 UAVs, 16 helicopters, 25 warplanes, 632 armored equipment and 6 TOS launchers.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 13:19,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. The recognition of the independence of Artsakh has become the number one demand, the recognition is a key step to solve the security issue of the Artsakh people, Chairman of the Armenian parliamentary standing committee on defense and security affairs Andranik Kocharyan said.

He said both the international community and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries should understand that today an issue of existence is being solved, and the logic – territories for uncertain status, discussed for years by the Minsk Group, can no longer operate. “Because the adversary has shown that they want territories without Armenian population. Today as well they are trying to eliminate not only the buildings, but also the people”, he said.

He said the Armenian side has formed its proposal. “The Prime Minister has presented what is urgent now in order to solve the security issue of our people in Artsakh. The recognition of the independence of Artsakh has become the number one demand”, Kocharyan said.

Kocharyan stated that Armenia today is the guarantor of the security of the Artsakh people. “And today we are fighting jointly for keeping firm the security of our people”, he said.

Reporting by Anna Grigoryan; Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 12:45,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. The meeting of Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov scheduled for October 29 in Geneva has been cancelled.

According to Russian media reports the meeting is delayed until October 30. 

Editing and translating by Stepan Kocharyan