NKR forces retrieve downed helicopter crew remainsNovember 22, 2014 - 12:21 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Armed forces of the Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) Republic launched a special operation to discover the fate of the crew members of the helicopter downed by Azerbaijan on Nov 12. “As a result of the operation, the body of one crew member, the remains of two pilots and some helicopter wreckage were recovered,” the NKR defense army reported. “Azeri army lost 2 soldiers in an attempt to curb the operation, with no losses on the NKR side reported,” the statement said. Mi-24 helicopter was shot down during a training flight as part of drills held jointly by Armenia and Artsakh. The NKR State Commission on prisoners of war, hostages and the missing persons earlier appealed to the International Committee of Red Cross mission in the NKR with regards to the fate of the crewmembers, one of whom could possibly survive the crash. However, Azerbaijan continued to keep the site under fire. On Nov 22, the NKR President Bako Sahakyan signed a decree to decorate posthumously with the medal for courage crew members of the NKR Air Forces Mi-24 helicopter downed by Azeri armed forces - major Sergey Sahakyan, senior lieutenant Sargis Nazaryan, and lieutenant Azat Sahakyan. Related issues: The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. Ex-President: Only removal of “defeatist” rulers can save Armenia Former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has shared a message on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Pashinyan: We must stop searching for homeland, we have found that homeland Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has shared a message on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. |