BAKU (Reuters) - Russian peacekeepers have begun withdrawing from Azerbaijan’s Karabakh and other regions, ending a multi-year deployment.
Nearly 2,000 Russian peacekeeping troops deployed to the breakaway region of Karabakh in November 2020 under a Moscow-brokered deal that halted six weeks of fighting between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces.
Despite the deployment, Azerbaijan retook Karabakh the area in September last year in a move which triggered an exodus of 120,000 Armenians.
Azerbaijani news agency APA reported late on Tuesday that Russian peacekeepers had begun withdrawing and that the first personnel and equipment had disappeared from Azerbaijan’s Kalbajar district a few days ago.
“The early withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers, temporarily stationed in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in accordance with the trilateral Statement signed on November 10, 2020, has been decided by the leaders of both countries,” it cited him as saying.
“The process has already begun, with the ministries of defense of Azerbaijan and Russia implementing appropriate measures for the execution of that decision.”
On Wednesday, Azerbaijan reported that France is pressuring and threatening the country after Paris recalled its ambassador and accused the Caucasus country of damaging bilateral ties.
Azerbaijan has slammed France on multiple occasions over what it sees as the country’s support for rival Armenia in a long-running stand-off between the neighbors.
“The Azerbaijani side has repeatedly stated to France that speaking in a language of threat and pressure will not bring any results, and once again declares that it will take all necessary measures to protect its national interests,” Aykhan Hajizada, Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry spokesperson, said in a statement.
French President Emmanuel Macron recalled ambassador Anne Boillon to Paris to discuss ties with Azerbaijan, the foreign ministry in Paris said Tuesday.