Category: 2020

 12:53,

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. The bodies of thousands of Azerbaijani servicemen who were killed in action are decomposing in various sections of the frontline due to Azerbaijan’s total disregard for the fate of its own troops, and meanwhile the Azeri military continues to violate the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairing countries-facilitated cessation of hostilities agreement which envisaged the exchange of bodies, POWs and other detainees.

The Ministry of Defense of Artsakh released a video (Viewer Discretion Advised) showing highly disturbing images of multiple bodies of Azeri troops left unattended by Azerbaijan itself.

“With such behavior the Azeri military-political regime shows that it doesn’t care not only for international humanitarian law norms, but also for the bodies and the memory of its own troops,” the Artsakh Defense Ministry said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 13:05,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. French lawmaker Valérie Boyer is concerned over the fact why France is not imposing tough sanctions on Turkey.

The MP posted a video on social media and stated that Turks in the French city of Vienne have attacked the police. “Turks attacked the police and want to catch Armenians as they did in 1915. How long France will stay neutral? How long are we going to close our eyes on the Turkish expansionism?” the French MP said.

On October 28 Turks attacked Armenian peaceful protesters with a knife in France.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 13:15,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan’s policy of crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing is doomed to failure and will meet the decisive resistance of the Artsakh people, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The Foreign Ministry reminded that in the past three days the peaceful settlements of Nagorno Karabakh are under constant Azerbaijani missile, artillery strikes, UAV attacks and bombardments of the military air force.

Since October 28 to now Stepanakert, Shushi and Martakert are under constant targeting. Stepanakert and Martakert are the hardest hit, as a result of which peaceful population is suffering a huge damage, civilian infrastructure are being demolished. “During the pandemic hospitals and other medical facilities are hit. There are numerous casualties and wounded. These war crimes committed by the Azerbaijani regime against the peaceful population are accompanied by direct involvement of Turkey and international terrorists and aim at eliminating the Armenian people in Nagorno Karabakh”, the MFA said.

Despite the calls of the international community and the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries, Azerbaijan stubbornly rejects the implementation of ceasefire agreements and the installation of ceasefire observation verification mechanisms in the conflict zone.

“Seeking to carry out its genocidal plan and avoiding its responsibility, Azerbaijan at the same time has launched a campaign based on frauds and falsifications to mislead the international community.

Azerbaijan’s policy of crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing is doomed to failure and will continue to meet the resolute resistance of the people of Artsakh which will be carried out with all necessary means for self-defense”, the statement says.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 14:00,

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Civilian casualties and heavy damages occurred in the town of Shushi as Azerbaijan once again bombarded the peaceful settlements of Artsakh on October 29, the State Service of Emergency Situations of Artsakh said.

“Azerbaijan is continuously violating all international conventions, using banned munitions against the peaceful population and civilian settlements of Artsakh. Shushi once again came under an Azerbaijani missile attack. There are civilian casualties and major material damages,” the State Service of Emergency Situations of Artsakh said.

The town of Shushi, as well as the city of Stepanakert and other nearby settlements, were heavily bombarded by the Azeri military with Smerch multiple rocket launchers.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 13:25,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Three people have been hospitalized with stab wounds after a suspect attacked an Armenian demonstration in Fresno, CA that was held in the northern part of the city in support of Armenia and Artsakh amid the Azeri attacks.

The incident happened at the intersection of Blackstone and Nees, where about 150 demonstrators had blocked off the northbound lanes of Blackstone about 6:40 pm, ABC30 News reported.
That’s when one agitated driver came out of his vehicle and had a verbal exchange with the protesters, police say.
“He was cussing us out and threatening us that he is going to damage our cars and also kill us,” said Katarina Melikian, who was at the rally. The suspect first ripped the group’s banner, then went back to his vehicle and took a wooden stick and began swinging it violently at the protesters.

As demonstrators attempted to fend him off, he allegedly pulled out a knife and started slashing.
Police said the suspect fled the scene and rammed into other cars.

“We don’t stand for hate at all. We stand against hate, we stand against racism,” said Sosi Dzhugarrian, one demonstrator.

The demonstrators said this won’t discourage their cause.

“We are not going to stop fighting for our country,” said Katarina Melikian.

Police say the suspect, who is already under arrest, faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon.

Editing by Stepan Kocharyan

 14:27,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan has handed over to the Armenian side the bodies of 29 Armenian servicemen who were killed in action.

Defense Ministry spokesperson Shushan Stepanyan said the handover was carried out “due to the exclusive mediation efforts of the Russian Federation and the participation of the field team of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office.”

In addition, Stepanyan said that one civilian person was returned to Armenia with the efforts of the ICRC.

“In turn, remaining committed to the agreements reached within the framework of the humanitarian ceasefire, the Armenian side is once again expressing readiness to hand over to the Azerbaijani side the bodies of the Azerbaijani servicemen that are in the territory of Artsakh,” Stepanyan said, adding that the Armenian side is willing to begin the process of retrieving bodies from the territories between the positions of the sides at the entire length of the frontline, to exchange information on POWs and the process of POW exchange in the future.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 14:48,

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Hours after the massive bombardment of Stepanakert City by the Azeri military on October 29, air raid sirens are again heard all across the capital of Artsakh.

ARMENPRESS correspondent reports hearing sounds of explosions.

15:08 – Air raid sirens deactivated. 

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 14:57,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Defense Ministry is denying the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense statement claiming that they have shot down two SU-25 aircraft of the Armenian Air Force.

Defense Ministry spokesperson Shushan Stepanyan said the report is disinformation.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

 14:52,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Ukraine’s deputy minister for reintegration Davit Makaryan has expressed his support to the Armenian people, AnalitikaUA.net reports.

“My heart is with the people affected in the hostilities in Nagorno Karabakh. My public activity also includes the fulfillment of power of deputy head of the Union of Armenians of Ukraine. The Union is implementing a number of important projects both in Ukraine and Armenia in different directions – culture, education, sport, history, etc”, the deputy minister said.

He informed that the Union held an emergency meeting aimed at assisting Armenians affected from the military operations.

The Armenian community of Ukraine is actively assisting Armenia, by providing ambulance, medical items, warm clothes and other means.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

 15:13,

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has once again presented the real goal of Turkey-backed Azerbaijani forces to the international community, that is the ethnic cleansing of Armenians in Artsakh, the PM said on Twitter.

“Turkish led Azerbaijani forces along with terrorists continue intensive military operations in different directions of the front line, including peaceful settlements across Artsakh. Their aim is the ethnic cleansing of Armenians in Artsakh”, the PM said, calling on to recognize Artsakh.

Editing by Aneta Harutyunyan