STEPANAKERT—Azerbaijan used Russian-made anti-aircraft weapons to down an Artsakh military helicopter last Wednesday, the commander of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Armed Forces, General Movses Hakobian told Azatutyun.am on Monday.

 

“Our observations and information released by Azerbaijan indicate that a ‘Strela’ anti-aircraft missile was used. These are Russian-made missiles,” said Hakobian adding that there is no agreement that says Russian cannot sells weapons to any nation. “There are no restrictions that it [Russia] has to be accountable to Armenia about to which country it chooses to sell weapons.”

“Of course it is sad. We are allies and strategic partners and I believe that Russia, in advancing its economic interests, must also take into account our interests. Something that is not being realized,” added Hakobian.

Artsakh’s top military commander also stressed that due to the intensive and continued shelling by the Azerbaijani forces in the area where the helicopter went down, Karabakh officials have not been able to inspect the wreckage. However, Hakobian stressed that the helicopter fell in an area between the Karabakh-Azerbaijan border often referred to as the Line of Contact.

Hakobian said that the Karabakh authorities have on numerous occasions said that the situation resembles war more than peace and that Azerbaijan continues to attack from its positions. He explained that entering the area where the helicopter was shot down is risky and dangerous, adding that Azerbaijan knows full well that “our intentions are to enter that very area, which is under their immediate control.”

Hakobian stressed that the army was still strategizing its next steps, but will not publicize them.

“No threat will go unanswered,” said Hakobian.