Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Minister was ‘killed’ by a Bayraktar drone

YEREVAN, (BM) – BulgarianMilitary.com closely monitors through its correspondents and freelance journalists the situation and what is happening on the front in Nagroni-Karabakh and the result of the military actions between the warring countries [Armenia and Azerbaijan – ed.].


According to information from the front line and some local sources, the Azerbaijani army managed to assassinate the commander-in-chief of the defense of Nagorno-Karabakh, Lieutenant General Jalal Harutyunyan. Some Russian and Azerbaijani media have released a video of the assassination attempt by a Turkish-made Bayraktar drone in service with the Azerbaijani army.

So far, in addition to the Azerbaijani side, confirmation of the assassination attempt on the Commander-in-Chief of Nagorno-Karabakh has also come from some Armenian media, which write that Jalal Harutyunyan was indeed in the car. However, the Armenian media did not confirm the death of their general, but only that he was seriously wounded. BulgarianMilitaries. com cannot confirm whether the general was killed or wounded, but the Wikipedia page claims that he died on October 27 this year [the information in Wikipedia is not reliable, given that anyone can edit in page – ed.].

Information about the possible death of Lieutenant General Jalal Harutyunyan may be credible, as military experts have noted the demobilization of Nagorno-Karabakh forces in recent days, losing some key defense territories. According to local sources, 45% of the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh is the scene of military clashes.

The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh escalated on September 27, active clashes are taking place in the disputed territory. Martial law was introduced in Azerbaijan and Armenia, and mobilization was announced. Both sides reported killed and wounded, including civilians. In Baku, they announced the control of several Karabakh villages and strategic heights. Yerevan also reports about the shelling of the territory of Armenia.

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Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

Azerbaijan and Armenia have been in conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh since February 1988, when the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region announced its withdrawal from the Azerbaijan SSR.

During the armed conflict in 1992-1994, the Azerbaijani side lost control of Nagorno-Karabakh and the seven areas adjacent to it. Since 1992, negotiations have been conducted within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group on a peaceful settlement of the conflict. The group is led by co-chairs – Russia, USA and France.

In 1994, Azerbaijan, Armenia and the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, through the mediation of Russia, signed the Bishkek Armistice Protocol. At the same time, military operations did not stop there, which periodically renewed. The most significant exacerbation of the conflict was the four-day war of 2016. Then hundreds of soldiers on both sides became victims.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, during a meeting with the President of Azerbaijan last year, called for a rhetoric that would go against the fundamental principles endorsed by both sides and enshrined in the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act when resolving the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh. At the same time, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry admitted that much more needs to be done to achieve a long-term political settlement.

Published atbulgarianmilitary.com