A meeting between representatives of Azerbaijan and the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has concluded in Yevlakh, as reported by the Azerbaijani news agency Trend, with no further details provided.
Following the end of the meeting, Nagorno-Karabakh’s representative mentioned that no final agreement with Baku was reached, with “specific details” yet to be worked out, reported by Russian state-run news agency RIA Novosti.
Shortly after the Yevlakh meeting commenced, residents in the Nagorno-Karabakh capital Stepanakert reported renewed artillery shelling near the city.
In a recent interview with The Insider, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada attempted to reassure ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh that they need not fear ethnic cleansing or deportation. He said that ethnic Armenians would not be required to leave the region, but would be expected to “reintegrate” into Azerbaijani society and acquire Azerbaijani citizenship.
The Nagorno-Karabakh Human Rights Ombudsman's office has reported that at least 200 people, including 10 civilians (five of whom were children) were killed as a result of the Azerbaijani army's attack on the region, which began on September 19. Hundreds more were injured.
The breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (also known as the Republic of Artsakh) announced a ceasefire agreement with Azerbaijan on September 20, reportedly agreeing to lay down its arms and disband the Artsakh Defense Army. The talks in Yevlakh are being held to discuss “reintegration issues,” according to a statement issued by Ilham Aliyev’s administration.