Russian Expert on Withdrawal of Peacekeepers from Artsakh

Russia does not intend to withdraw its peacekeeping forces from Nagorno-Karabakh. In an interview with Armenpress, Russian military expert Vladimir Yevseyev expressed this opinion while commenting on the statement by the former commander of the peacekeeping contingent, Rustam Muradov.

“I believe that Russia does not plan to withdraw the peacekeepers (from Nagorno-Karabakh) after the five-year term expires. But, of course, everything will depend on the current situation. Azerbaijan will certainly try to somehow push the Russian peacekeepers out, but I do not think it will succeed,” said the Russian expert.

In this context, Yevseyev noted that almost a year after the war, Azerbaijan has essentially not integrated the territories it occupied. “I do not really see how Azerbaijan is integrating Artsakh. It is not visible. There are some military captures, but there is no observable settlement of the territories. It turns out that the 7,000 Azerbaijani soldiers lost in the war have died in vain. It turns out they have captured territories where no one lives. In this case, what was the point of such losses? What are the Arabs doing in Nagorno-Karabakh, for example? Why did they appear there? There are many questions. Therefore, I believe it is too early to talk about what will happen in four years. But in any case, I think that Russia does not intend to withdraw the peacekeepers. This is my personal opinion,” commented Vladimir Yevseyev.

According to the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, the Russian peacekeeping contingent has been stationed in Artsakh. The former commander of this contingent, Lieutenant General Rustam Muradov, stated during a meeting in Makhachkala that after the five-year term of the peacekeeping mission expires, a decision will be made regarding the extension of the Russian peacekeeping mission. Muradov also noted that he evaluates the activities of the Russian peacekeeping forces in Nagorno-Karabakh positively. According to the general, the assessment of the peacekeepers is given by the peaceful population of Artsakh.

Rustam Muradov will be replaced as commander by Major General Mikhail Kosobokov, who previously held the position of Deputy Commander of the 58th Combined Arms Army of the Russian Armed Forces (Southern Military District). On September 9, the newly appointed commander of the Russian peacekeeping forces, Mikhail Kosobokov, was received in Yerevan by the Minister of Defense of Armenia, Arshak Karapetyan.