18:15, 6 March 2023

YEREVAN, MARCH 6, ARMENPRESS. Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, commented on the attack of the Azerbaijani subversive group on the police vehicle of Artsakh.

ARMENPRESS reports, the comment published on the official page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation states: "We express serious concern regarding the increase in tension in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. Over the past few days, multiple violations of the ceasefire have been reported. On March 5, an armed incident took place, as a result of which both the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides suffered casualties."

Zakharova called on the parties to show restraint and take steps to ease the tension. "We reaffirm the need to strictly observe the provisions of the November 9, 2020 statement by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on the complete cessation of fire and all military operations in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone," the message states.

The spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized in the statement that any security-related issue in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping troops should be resolved peacefully, through communication between the parties, under the auspices of the peacekeeping troops.

"The incident once again confirms the imperative for Baku and Yerevan to immediately return to the negotiations base don the implementation of the provisions of the trilateral statements of the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on November 9, 2020, January 11, and November 26, 2021, as well as October 31, 2022, as well as the unblocking of regional communications, delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and elaboration of the peace treaty”, reads the statement.

Three Nagorno Karabakh police officers were killed as a result of an ambush by a sabotage team of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces on March 5. The officers of the Passport and Visa Department of the Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Nagorno-Karabakh were attacked around 10:00 in the area called Khaypalu. They were in their service vehicle at the time of the ambush.