The Kremlin has officially confirmed that Russia has initiated the withdrawal of its "peacekeeping forces" from the territory of Karabakh, now under Azerbaijani control.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the beginning of the troop withdrawal following reports from Azerbaijani media, as stated by the Russian news agency Interfax.
When asked to confirm the Azerbaijani media's claims about the withdrawal of Russian troops, Peskov simply stated, "Yes, it's true."
Background of the Deployment
The deployment of Russian "peacekeepers" was initially agreed upon in a tripartite statement signed by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Russia, and Armenia on November 10, 2020. This agreement was intended to stabilize the region after prolonged conflicts.
Azerbaijan's swift military operation on September 19, 2023, effectively ended the longstanding dispute, leading to the dissolution of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic on January 1, 2024.
This operation allowed Azerbaijan to reassert control over the territory, which has been a point of contention for decades.
The media reports that the Russian withdrawal will be completed within a few days.
