Tension on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border. Who is heating up the situation?

Bakı/16.06.23/Turan: On June 15, a provocation occurred at the Lachin border crossing, committed by Armenia, according to reports from Baku. At 08:45, an Azerbaijani serviceman from the State Border Service (GPS) stationed at the Lachin Border Checkpoint was injured as a result of shelling from Armenian territory. However, Azerbaijani forces neutralized two Armenian snipers responsible for the attack.

Following the incident, the Lachin checkpoint was closed by Azerbaijani border guards, halting traffic and people. Subsequently, the movement of Russian peacekeepers and the Red Cross was also halted. Reports emerged from the Armenian press suggesting that the Azerbaijani flag had been installed at the entrance to the bridge. The Azerbaijani side did not comment on the traffic stop or the installation of the flag.

Additional information from Caliber.az indicated heavy fighting in the Zangilan direction, with the Armenian side using artillery and rocket launchers. The Azerbaijani army responded with appropriate measures.

Military expert Uzeyir Jafarov provided analysis on the situation during the program "Difficult Question." He argued that it is crucial to identify the party that benefits from the current situation in this provocation. According to Jafarov, the answer is apparent: those who oppose the signing of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The termination of the conflict would remove Russia's leverage for exerting pressure on both countries.

Jafarov highlighted a recent comment by Maria Zakharova, the official spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, which seemed to support a message circulated by the RIA Novosti agency. The message claimed that Washington was attempting to blackmail the Armenian community into accepting conditions imposed by Baku. The United States promptly refuted this statement, calling it a provocation.

Jafarov viewed Zakharova's statement as a sign of nervousness arising from the participation of other mediators in the negotiation process. He suggested that Russia sought to maintain monopoly control over the process and had not fulfilled the terms of the trilateral agreement reached in November 2020.

The expert emphasized that illegal armed Armenian groups have yet to be withdrawn from the Karabakh region, and the Russian peacekeeping mission is involved in activities that go beyond its mandated responsibilities. Consequently, Jafarov firmly believed that the provocation at the Lachin border crossing was organized by Russia.