The Kremlin confirmed plans to withdraw approximately 2,000 Russian troops from the Nagorno-Karabakh region now controlled by Azerbaijan. This announcement follows a period during which Azerbaijan took full control of the area after a series of conflicts and a blockade that severely impacted the local Armenian population. The Russian peacekeeping forces were originally deployed under a 2020 ceasefire agreement brokered between Armenia and Azerbaijan to stabilize the region and protect the ethnic Armenian population following extensive fighting.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the withdrawal without providing specific reasons or timelines, but it coincides with Azerbaijan’s successful offensive last year to reclaim the disputed territory. The Russian forces, which had a mandate to remain in the region until at least 2025, faced criticism for their non-intervention during Azerbaijan’s blockade and subsequent military actions that led to the displacement of almost the entire Armenian population from Nagorno-Karabakh.
This move comes amid growing tensions between Armenia and Russia, with Armenia recently freezing its membership in the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and engaging in military exercises with the United States. Armenia is also seeking closer ties with the European Union, indicating a significant shift in its foreign policy and alliances.
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