Yerevan. March 26. INTERFAX - Martial law has been imposed in the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR).
"On March 26, President of the Republic of Artsakh (Armenian name of Nagorno-Karabakh - IF) Araik Harutyunyan signed a decree on temporary restriction of rights and freedoms in the conditions of martial law declared on the territory of the Republic of Artsakh." - the press service of the NKR head reports.
During the period of martial law, the right to freedom of assembly is restricted, strikes and other events are prohibited, and the work of organizations engaged in propaganda or other activities directed against defense and security is suspended.
"The responsibility for ensuring the application of temporary restrictions on rights and freedoms established by this decree rests with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Security Service of the Republic of Artsakh," the press service of the NKR head said.
In the morning, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan stated that Armenian formations tried to commit sabotage against Azerbaijani army units in the Karabakh region on Saturday. "Members of illegal Armenian armed formations, taking advantage of the foggy weather and limited visibility, attempted sabotage against units of the Azerbaijani army," the message said. "As a result of immediate measures, the members of the Armenian armed forces were forced to retreat."
Meanwhile, the press service of the NKR Defense Ministry reported on Saturday that the Azerbaijani army is trying to ensure the advance in the eastern direction of the contact line of Nagorno-Karabakh. "On March 26, at 11:00, units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces again resorted to aggressive actions, trying to ensure the advance in the area of responsibility of Russian peacekeepers - in the eastern direction with the use of small arms of various calibers. The units of the Defense Army of the Republic of Artsakh are taking proportionate actions to stop the enemy's advance," the message said. "Steps are being taken to search together with the command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent for ways to resolve the situation."
The NKR authorities asked the Russian president to increase the number of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh.
In turn, the Armenian Foreign Ministry called on the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh to achieve the return of Azerbaijani troops to their original positions. "The international community is obliged to take targeted and effective steps to prevent attempts to de-escalate the situation in the South Caucasus. At the same time, we consider it important to conduct a proper investigation of the actions of the Russian peacekeeping contingent during the invasion of Azerbaijani armed forces units into its zone of responsibility in Nagorno-Karabakh," Yerevan said on Saturday.
The Foreign Ministry considers it important "for the Russian peacekeeping contingent to formulate and announce a clear demand for the return of Azerbaijani units to their original positions." "We also expect concrete and visible steps from the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh to resolve the situation in order to prevent new victims and hostilities," the Armenian Foreign Ministry said.
According to the ministry, Azerbaijan's actions "are aimed at ethnic cleansing of Armenian settlements in Nagorno-Karabakh."
On the eve of the situation in the area of responsibility of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed by phone. According to Yerevan, Pashinyan "raised the question of the need for Russian peacekeepers to return the Azerbaijani armed forces to their original positions."
