Araik Harutyunyan Releases Statement

The President of Artsakh, Araik Harutyunyan, has posted on his Facebook page: "Dear compatriots, it has been a year since the establishment of a fragile ceasefire in the Azerbaijan-Artsakh conflict zone. During this time, the authorities of Artsakh, with the support of Armenia and the Diaspora, and in cooperation with the Russian peacekeeping forces, have been striving to address various issues arising from the consequences of war, including military-political, security, and socio-economic challenges.

However, we occasionally experience situations where the Azerbaijani side violates both the provisions of the declaration signed a year ago at a high level and the agreements regarding daily operations. This is evident in cases of ceasefire violations along the contact line, as well as in the last two incidents where civilians were killed and injured. The citizens of the Artsakh Republic have been targeted by Azerbaijan's blatant terror, along with the Russian peacekeepers; the goal is to instill panic among those living in Artsakh and, of course, to attempt to discredit the mission of the Russian peacekeeping forces.

I would like to briefly address what has been done during this period to strengthen the ceasefire regime ensured by the Defense Army of the Republic of Artsakh and peacekeepers, as well as to solve other security issues:

1. Amendments to the law on weapons will expand the opportunities for acquiring weapons.
2. Although significant work has been carried out to ensure permanent armed control in the localities adjacent to the contact line, the relevant units of law enforcement bodies will now take an even greater role in the operations conducted in areas near the contact line, as well as in ensuring the security of localities and roads. In this regard, I ask all citizens and organizations to contact the National Security Service of the Artsakh Republic when carrying out work in the specified areas.
3. During this year, significant efforts have also been made to strengthen the frontline and ensure the proper functioning of the Defense Army's operational activities.
4. We are also engaging in daily cooperation with the Russian peacekeepers to prevent various security risks and resolve issues.

Through largely invisible efforts, we will maximize our endeavors to continually enhance the security level of our population, utilizing both our own security capabilities and the military-political guarantees provided by the Russian peacekeeping forces. I would like to express my gratitude once again to the Russian peacekeeping forces in Artsakh, the command, and personally to the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, for the efforts made."