The City Council of Milan on Thursday, October 15 unanimously approved a motion condemning the Turkish-Azerbaijani aggression and recognizing the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), city lawmaker Matteo Forte said in a Facebook post.

"After the vote of Palazzo Marino (Milan city hall) in 1997, which saw a municipality recognize the Armenian Genocide for the first time, Milan once again opens the way," Forte said.

According to Armenian lawmaker Gayane Abrahamyan, the Milan City Council has asked the mayor and the executive authorities to "request that the Italian government recognize Artsakh, which can not only lead to justice but also end the silence that has long become an accomplice to the crime."

Azerbaijan, with help from Turkey and Syrian and Libyan mercenaries deployed by Ankara, started a war against Karabakh (Artsakh) in the morning of September 27. The Armenian side has reported deaths and injuries both among the civilian population and the military. Foreign and local journalists too have been injured in Azeri shelling of towns and villages.

Donations can be made to Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, which has launched a fundraising campaign to support humanitarian efforts in Karabakh.