Armenian President Armen Sarkissian has thanked the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group for mediating a humanitarian ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh, particularly stressing the efforts of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Addressing the Armenian Summit of Minds on Saturday, October 10, Sarkissian said he hopes the ceasefire will mark the beginning of a return to the peace process.

Azerbaijan, with help from Turkey, launched a large-scale offensive against Karabakh (Artsakh) in the morning of September 27, shelling Armenian positions and civilian settlements with large caliber weapons and rocket systems. Armenia and Karabakh have introduced martial law and total mobilization. The Armenian side has reported deaths and injuries both among the civilian population and the military. International and local journalists too have been injured in Azeri shelling of towns and villages, as well as the iconic Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi. A humanitarian ceasefire was supposed to begin from midday, October 10, but Azerbaijan has launched a new offensive and struck settlements both in Karabakh and Armenia.