The collective security treaty organization (CSTO), a post-Soviet bloc led by Russia, is refraining from military intervention in the armed conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Azerbaijan is not a member of the CSTO, though neighbour Armenia is. The other members are Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. Senior officials from these nations held an extraordinary session of the CSTO Council on Sep. 13 via videoconference. An official statement about the results of this meeting appeared on the CSTO’s official website in the early hours of Sep. 14.
The statement reads that “The Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia informed the participants of the meeting about the situation that has developed in certain areas on the border of Armenia and Azerbaijan, where since midnight on September 13, 2022, there have been clashes with the use of heavy weapons and UAVs, as a result of which there are dead and wounded. The meeting participants expressed their condolences to the Armenian side,”.
However, Azerbaijani Telegram channels reported that earlier on the CSTO website contained information that a contingent of troops from Russia and Belarus would be sent to Armenia to resolve the conflict. This information was subsequently deleted, but users managed to take screenshots.
The agreement was reached at the meeting to send a mission from the CSTO to Armenia headed by CSTO secretary-general Stanislav Zas, with the participation of the Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff, Colonel-General Anatoly Sidorov, and representatives of CSTO member states. The mission is to assess the situation and prepare a report for consideration at the regular session of the CSTO Council this autumn.
A reminder that on Sep. 13, units of Azerbaijani armed forces began shelling Armenian positions with artillery and large-caliber guns. In response, Armenia accused Azerbaijan of a massive attack and violation of its sovereignty.
But the Azerbaijani side called it a response to acts of sabotage and that their army is not fighting inside Armenia.
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