Ceasefire and Prisoner Exchange Incident Between Armenia and Azerbaijan
Prisoners of war from Armenia and Azerbaijan were released as a gesture of goodwill. A total of 32 Armenian military personnel and two Azerbaijani soldiers were freed, following a joint statement by the Azerbaijani President’s administration and the Armenian Prime Minister. The leaders reaffirmed their intent to normalize relations and work toward a peace agreement grounded in the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both nations, as outlined in their cooperative statement. [Cite: Official statements from presidential and prime ministerial offices]
According to the dialogue between the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan and the Prime Ministry Office of Armenia, both sides agreed to concrete measures aimed at building trust and advancing humanitarian cooperation. In line with humanitarian principles and as a goodwill gesture, Azerbaijan announced the release of 32 Armenian service members. [Cite: Bilateral negotiation communiqués]
On September 19, Azerbaijani authorities announced a local operation in the Karabakh region, describing the aim as preventing large-scale provocations, disarming forces, and withdrawing Armenian army units from the territory. This operation was presented as a security measure within the broader context of regional stability. [Cite: Azerbaijani defense ministry briefings]
One day after the operation, the involved parties reached a ceasefire agreement with mediation from Russian peacekeepers. The arrangement was designed to reduce tensions and create space for negotiation on long-term settlement terms. [Cite: Russian peacekeeper mediation statements]
Later, on September 28, Samvel Shahramanyan, the president of the de facto Nagorno-Karabakh authority, issued a decree to terminate the existence of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic by January 1, 2024. The move marked a significant administrative shift in governance for the region. [Cite: Karabakh administration orders]
Earlier, Azerbaijan had announced warrants for a number of Karabakh officials, indicating a broader pursuit of accountability and law enforcement across the disputed territory. [Cite: Azerbaijani government announcements]