The Azerbaijani Interior Ministry’s claims that Armenian Armed Forces are stationed within Nagorno-Karabakh have not been borne out by existing evidence, a position echoed in the official statement from Armenia’s defense authorities and cited by the press agency TASS. The dispute over troop presence has persisted despite repeated official communications from Baku that challenge these allegations and insist there are no Armenian units operating in the territory of Karabakh.
In its latest release, the Armenian defense ministry reaffirmed its position, noting that a number of formal correspondences circulating from Baku continue to push the narrative of Armenian military presence in Karabakh, a narrative that Yerevan regards as unfounded or misleading. The Armenian side underscored that the Azerbaijani interior ministry’s September 24 release fits this pattern of unverified claims, which Armenia considers to be part of a broader information war surrounding the conflict region.
According to the Armenian defense establishment, the statement from Azerbaijan appears to repeat a previously asserted claim that Armenian forces are not deployed in Nagorno-Karabakh, a claim the department maintains is accurate as of the date in question. This stance aligns with Armenia’s long-standing position that there are no Armenian combat units stationed in the contested area, a point which has significant implications for regional security assessments and diplomatic messaging.
Earlier, the Azerbaijani interior ministry announced its readiness to facilitate the safe withdrawal of Armenian service personnel who had laid down their weapons from Nagorno-Karabakh, asserting that Baku and Yerevan had reached relevant understandings on September 20. The announced plan envisaged a structured, secure exit process designed to minimize risk to personnel and to avert a sudden vacuum within the forces on the ground, while allowing for the orderly transfer of control and responsibility in the region.
On September 19, regional tensions surged anew as the Azerbaijani government declared the launch of “anti-terrorism measures of a local nature,” a move framed as a targeted operation aimed at compelling Armenian soldiers to depart from Karabakh. The announcement signaled a hardening of Azerbaijan’s posture and a willingness to deploy localized security actions in support of broader strategic objectives in the area.
Meanwhile, Armenian officials described the decision from Baku as a large-scale military strike against their side, characterizing the developments as a major escalation that threatened stability in the borderlands. The response from Moscow soon followed, with Russian authorities urging both sides to pursue a diplomatic settlement and to exercise restraint to prevent a further deterioration of the situation.
Subsequently, Baku and Yerevan announced a pause in the Azerbaijani operation, signaling a potential de-escalation of the immediate crisis. The pause opened space for dialogue, with the meeting on September 21 in Yevlakh bringing together representatives of Azerbaijan and the Armenian community of Nagorno-Karabakh. Discussions at this gathering centered on the broader questions of reintegration, security guarantees, and the paths toward stabilizing governance in the region amid ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Earlier efforts had also involved proposals toward a peace framework, including Armenia’s consideration of a draft peace agreement presented by Azerbaijan. The evolving diplomatic process reflects a broader international interest in achieving a durable settlement that respects the sovereignty and security concerns of all parties involved while addressing the humanitarian and political dimensions of the conflict.