Azerbaijani forces ambushed a vehicle in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Sunday morning, leaving three Armenian police officers dead and one seriously injured. Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry later reported two dead on its side. CivilNet host and analyst Eric Hacopian and Emilio Cricchio discuss recent developments on the international stage and the state of the negotiation process with the Armenian side that may have led to this attack.
An attack by Azerbaijani forces in Nagorno-Karabakh on Sunday morning left three Armenian police officers dead and one seriously injured. Baku said two of its soldiers were killed in the incident. Karabakh’s Interior Ministry reported that the attack occurred near Stepanakert.
Credits: Ruptly
09:52, 7 March 2023
YEREVAN, MARCH 7, ARMENPRESS. A former POW is suspected of spying for Azerbaijan after his release and subsequent service in the military, the prosecution announced on Tuesday.
The suspect, a major in the Armed Forces of Armenia, is one of the Armenian troops who were taken captive by Azerbaijani forces in July 2021 in Ishkhanasar, Syunik Province. The Armenian POW was then taken to Baku. In custody, he gave written consent to spy for Azerbaijan after his release, according to investigators.
He was released on September 7 of the same year. Months later he was assigned to a new post at a military base, where he served as the communal service chief.
The general prosecution said that during his service the suspect “being recruited by a foreign intelligence agency, conveyed classified information [state secrets] to the foreign intelligence agency, thus committing high treason…”
He was paid 20,200 dollars by the foreign intelligence agency.
The suspect is charged with state treason.
The case was lodged at the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction on March 6, 2023.
10:00, 7 March 2023
YEREVAN, MARCH 7, ARMENPRESS. United States Congressman Adam Schiff said the “deliberate murder” of the three Artsakh police officers by Azerbaijani forces furthers the need for sanctions against Baku.
“The attack by Azerbaijani forces that killed 3 Artsakh police officers is another act of deliberate murder and furthers the need for sanctions against Azerbaijan for their violations of human rights and the right to self-determination for the people of Artsakh,” Congressman Adam Schiff said in a statement. “This latest violence comes during the ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by the blockade of the Lachin corridor, leaving 120,000 individuals in dire conditions. The U.S. must condemn Azerbaijan’s assaults on Artsakh and hold the Aliyev regime accountable. I urge the U.S. State Department and the Biden Administration to use all diplomatic channels available to address the increased instability in the region and ensure that the security and sovereignty of Artsakh is respected.”
10:04, 7 March 2023
YEREVAN, MARCH 7, ARMENPRESS. There are 562 beneficiary families in Lori region with 4 and more children under the age of 18. Benefactor Karen Vardanyan implemented another charitable program in Lori region and on the occasion of March 8, International Women's Day, he donated 200,000 drams of financial assistance to each of the mothers of many children. The total budget of the program amounted to 113 million drams.
10:14, 7 March 2023
YEREVAN, MARCH 7, ARMENPRESS. Nine new cases of measles were confirmed in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the ongoing outbreak to 29, the Armenian Ministry of Healthcare announced on March 7.
The number of recoveries reached 7, while the number of active cases stood at 15 as of Tuesday morning.
Most of the patients are unvaccinated.
Healthcare authorities recommend children get two doses of the measles vaccine, starting with the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age. The Armenian healthcare ministry advised parents to get their children vaccinated if they’ve missed the immunization schedule.
At the same time, unvaccinated direct contacts, including adults, of confirmed cases should also get vaccinated, healthcare authorities said.
Measles is one of the world’s most contagious diseases. It is spread by coughing and sneezing, close personal contact or direct contact with infected nasal or throat secretions.
The virus remains active and contagious in the air or on infected surfaces for up to 2 hours. It can be transmitted by an infected person from 4 days prior to the onset of the rash to 4 days after the rash erupts, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Unvaccinated young children are at highest risk of measles and its complications. Unvaccinated pregnant women are also at risk. Any non-immune person (who has not been vaccinated or was vaccinated but did not develop immunity) can become infected.
The first sign of measles is usually a high fever, which begins about 10 to 12 days after exposure to the virus, and lasts 4 to 7 days. A runny nose, a cough, red and watery eyes, and small white spots inside the cheeks can develop in the initial stage. After several days, a rash erupts, usually on the face and upper neck. Over about 3 days, the rash spreads, eventually reaching the hands and feet.
10:56, 7 March 2023
YEREVAN, MARCH 7, ARMENPRESS. The United States is not competing with Russia with its efforts to bring about the settlement and resolution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said at a press briefing on March 6.
“This is a question for the parties themselves, and we are not going to put ourselves against any other offer of mediation, and in fact we’re not a mediator. We are a partner to the two countries. I think we have demonstrated both in word and in deed the nature of our relationship with the two countries, our ability to bring the two countries together, our willingness and readiness to help bring about additional progress in relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan,” Price said when asked why the Western mediation is a better option given that Russian FM Lavrov recently called on the parties to stick to Moscow’s mediation.
“We are not doing this as a means by which to compete with Moscow. We are doing this in an effort to bring about the settlement and resolution of a longstanding dispute between these two countries, and unfortunately a dispute that has consistently taken lives, just as it did on March 5th," Price said, referring to the Azeri ambush in Nagorno Karabakh (NK) which killed three NK police officers.
"Our interest here is in peace and security. It’s in the interests of the people of Armenia and Azerbaijan as well,” Price added.
11:24, 7 March 2023
YEREVAN, MARCH 7, ARMENPRESS. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the transfer of 9 patients from blockaded Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) to Armenia for treatment on March 7, the healthcare ministry of Nagorno Karabakh reported.
“Due to the blocking by Azerbaijan of the only road connecting Artsakh with Armenia, 9 patients from the Republican Medical Center the Republic of Artsakh with serious diseases of the oncology and pathologies requiring emergency surgical interventions have been transported today, on March 7, to specialized medical institutions of the Republic of Armenia with the mediation and escort of the International Committee of the Red Cross,” the ministry said in a statement posted on social media.
“9 patients, who had been transferred to Armenia for medical treatment, returned to Artsakh together with their accompanying persons. Scheduled surgeries continue to be suspended in the medical centers of the Republic of Artsakh. 6 children remain in the neonatal and intensive care unit of the Arevik medical centre. 6 patients remain in the intensive care unit of the Republican Medical Centre, 1 of them in critical condition.A total of 153 patients have been transported so far from Artsakh to Armenia with the mediation and support of the International Committee of the Red Cross,” the ministry added.
12:24, 7 March 2023
YEREVAN, MARCH 7, ARMENPRESS. The Nagorno Karabakh police officer who survived the Azeri ambush on March 5 is still under intensive care at the Republican Medical Center in Stepanakert, the healthcare ministry of Nagorno Karabakh said Tuesday.
The officer is in non-life-threatening condition, the ministry added.
Three Nagorno Karabakh police officers were killed and another was injured when Azerbaijani military forces ambushed their vehicle on March 5 in what Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh described as a “terror attack”.
12:53, 7 March 2023
YEREVAN, MARCH 7, ARMENPRESS. Armenia exported $572,778,300 worth of products in January of 2023, 2,5 times more compared to January of 2022, according to the Statistical Committee.
The top export destination in the reporting period was Russia with $354,915,100 worth of goods – 5,2 times more compared to January of 2022. The second top destination of Armenian exports is the UAE ($46,563,000/14,1 times more), followed by China ($40,458,400/12% growth).
Exports to the Netherlands totaled $30,175,000 (29,5% growth).
Exports to Iraq grew 25,5% and stood at $19,563,500.
11,5% drop in exports was recorded to Georgia ($6,591,900).
Total exports to EEU countries comprised $371,305,900 (5,2 times more). Exports to EU countries dropped 4,3% and totaled $54,081,400.