A year has passed since the local anti-terrorist measures carried out by the Azerbaijani Army in Karabakh, APA reports.
A few months before the local anti-terrorist measures, the Armenian armed forces units in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan systematically fired at the positions of the Azerbaijani Army with various types of weapons, continued mining of our territories, engineering improvement of the combat positions, as well as increasing the number of trenches and shelters, caused an increase in tension.
In this regard, the strengthening of combat positions with personnel, armored vehicles, artillery installations, and other means of fire, bringing the units to a high level of combat readiness, creating additional units for mobilization, expanding intelligence activities against the units of the Azerbaijan Army, infiltrating the depths of our positions, demining areas and civilian targets Actions such as re-mining of roads for terrorist-provocation were detected by our observations.
On September 19, a vehicle belonging to the State Agency of Azerbaijan Highways was destroyed and civilians were killed as a result of the explosion of a mine pre-installed for terrorist purposes by the intelligence-sabotage teams of the units of the Armenian armed forces in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan on the Ahmedbeyli-Fuzuli-Shusha highway. On the same day, a vehicle carrying military personnel of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs fell into a mine planted by the intelligence-sabotage teams of the Armenian armed forces, killing and injuring our military personnel.
The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated that, contrary to the provisions of the tripartite statement signed on November 10, 2020, the continued presence of the Armenian armed forces in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan is a serious threat to regional peace and stability.
Ensuring the provisions of the tripartite declaration, preventing large-scale provocations committed in the Karabakh economic region, disarming and withdrawing the units of the Armenian armed forces from our territories, neutralizing their military infrastructure, ensuring the safety of the civilian population returning to the liberated territories, as well as the civilian workers and military personnel involved in the reconstruction work. anti-terrorist measures of a local nature were started in the region on September 19 to ensure and restore the constitutional structure of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Within the framework of the measures, the front-line and deep positions and long-term firing points of the Armenian armed forces, as well as combat vehicles and military objects, were destroyed by the use of high-precision weapons.
Civil population and civil infrastructure facilities were not targeted during local anti-terrorist measures in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.
The servicemen of the Armenian armed forces, running out of ammunition, left their combat positions in panic.
On September 20, 2023, at 13:00, an agreement was reached on the suspension of local anti-terrorist measures under the following conditions:
1. The formations of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed groups located in the Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan lay down their weapons, leave their combat positions and military posts, and disarm completely. Units of the Armenian armed forces leave the territories of Azerbaijan, and illegal Armenian armed groups are released.
2. In parallel, all weapons and heavy equipment are handed over.
3. It is ensured that the above-mentioned processes are carried out in a coordinated manner with the Russian peacekeeping contingent.
On September 20, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev addressed the people.
In his address to the nation, President Ilham Aliyev stated that on September 19, 2023, around 1:00 p.m., Azerbaijan regained its sovereignty as a result of the initiation and successful completion of anti-terrorist measures.
"Our servicemen have shown extraordinary heroism, bravery and professionalism during the anti-terrorist measures. In challenging terrain and despite the presence of fortifications created over the years of engineering works by the enemy, given that the enemy's positions are located on hills and in favorable places, our servicemen once again, as I mentioned, showed heroism and professionalism and achieved significant military success in all directions in a short time. A large part of the army of the Armenian state, which was illegally stationed on the territory of Azerbaijan and has not been withdrawn to this day despite the obligation by the Armenian state, has been completely destroyed. Military equipment was obliterated and incapacitated.
Before the operation, I once again gave a strict order to all our military units that the Armenian population living in the Karabakh region should not be affected by the anti-terrorist measures and that the civilian population be protected. We have achieved this by using high-precision weapons. At the same time, civilians felt protected entirely thanks to the professionalism of our Armed Forces. In the meantime, I ordered that the civilian infrastructure not be targeted and only the military infrastructure be destroyed. I want to say again that the professionalism and technical capabilities of our Army and all of our Armed Forces made it possible to fulfill this duty with honor. Once again, Azerbaijani soldiers and officers showed high professionalism and moral qualities," the President of Azerbaijan said in his speech.
Unfortunately, we had martyrs during anti-terrorist measures. 192 servicemen of the Azerbaijan Army were martyred during local anti-terrorist measures.
During the inspection of the territory in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, a large number of warehouses filled with mines of various purposes and improvised explosive devices were discovered by the engineering and fortification units of our Army. It was determined that some of the existing mines in the discovered warehouses were produced in Armenia in 2021, and the improvised explosive devices were made from artillery shells by artisanal methods.
As of October 2 at 18:00, according to the information on military equipment, weapons, and ammunition confiscated after the completion of local anti-terrorist measures in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, small arms (2608), grenade launchers (235), cannons and howitzers (60) ), mortars (64), anti-tank weapons (58), HHM weapons (165), armored vehicles (31), vehicles (265), trailers (23), auxiliary equipment (9), rockets (1700), artillery and howitzers shells (5177) anti-aircraft cannon shells (31771), mortar shells (12806), grenades (5880), hand grenades (3068), cartridges (2009970) other ammunition (5778), optical devices (314), other devices (38), individual means of supply (1027), installations of various weapons (15) and other means of supply (3323) were detected.
On September 28, 2023, the so-called entity in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan announced its release. Samvel Shahramanyan, who headed the so-called institution, decided on this. According to the decision, all institutions and organizations of the so-called regime will completely cease their activities from January 1, 2024. With this, the "Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh" ended its existence.
In addition, the law enforcement agencies of Azerbaijan are the "presidents" of the so-called organization in Karabakh, Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Araik Harutyunyan, former "foreign minister" David Babayan, as well as "parliament speaker" David Ishkhanyan, generals Lyova Mnatsakanyan, David Manukyan and former " Minister of State" arrested Ruben Vardanya and brought him to Baku.
At the same time, the Republic of Azerbaijan started practical activities related to the reintegration of Armenian residents living in the Karabakh region.
It was noted that reintegration is carried out based on the Constitution, laws and international obligations of the Republic of Azerbaijan within the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The equality of rights and freedoms of everyone, including the security of everyone, is guaranteed regardless of ethnic, religious or linguistic affiliation.
On October 15, 2023, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev raised the State Flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the city of Aghdara, Khojaly City, Asgaran settlement of Khojaly district, Sarsang reservoir, and Khankendi City.
On that date, the head of state Ilham Aliyev made a speech in Khankendi. The President said that today is a historic day.
"We worked tirelessly to strengthen our army. We have created such a strong army that the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan can honorably fulfill any task today, and we proved that on the battlefield. We forced the enemy to sign the act of capitulation in just 44 days during the Patriotic War three years ago. At the same time, the anti-terror operation which we carried out last month and which lasted only 23 hours, showed our strength, and the enemy surrendered by waving the white flag. We are rightly proud of our Armed Forces," the President of Azerbaijan emphasized.
It should also be noted that on November 8, 2023, a military parade dedicated to the third anniversary of the Victory in the Patriotic War was held in the city of Khankendi. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, and their son Heydar Aliyev participated in the parade.
According to the Memorandum signed between the Republic of Turkey and the Russian Federation as a logical result of anti-terrorist measures, Turkey established on January 30, 2021, in Aghdam, Azerbaijan, to control the ceasefire regime in the Karabakh region and prevent law violations, from April 26, 2024. - The Russian Joint Monitoring Center has stopped its activity.
The Russian Peacekeeping Contingent has completely left Azerbaijan.
According to the Decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev yesterday, September 20 will be celebrated as the Day of Khankendi, Khojaly, Khojavend, and Aghdara cities.
