Aliyev Comments on Why Russian Peacekeepers Are Leaving Nagorno-Karabakh Early

Russian peacekeepers are leaving Nagorno-Karabakh earlier than scheduled as a result of agreements between the leaders of Russia and Azerbaijan. This was stated by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during a meeting with representatives of foreign analytical centers.

“Both Russia and Azerbaijan clearly understood that, despite the deadline not being over, the peacekeepers could leave earlier. This decision only reinforced Azerbaijan-Russia relations,” said Aliyev, adding that the strategic nature of bilateral relations was emphasized during his recent meeting with Putin.

“When signing the November 9 agreement, Armenia wanted Russian peacekeepers to remain there on a permanent basis, but we did not agree. This was a principled issue for us. Our approach was as follows: if our option were not adopted, there would be no statement, and the war would continue,” Aliyev remarked.