Russian peacekeepers comment on return of Kalbajar to Azerbaijan

Russian peacekeepers are controlling the process of transferring the Kalbajar region of Nagorno-Karabakh to the Azerbaijani side, an official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, Major General Igor Konashenkov said.

"The transfer of the Kalbajar region of Nagorno-Karabakh to the Azerbaijani side has begun at 00:00 on November 25, in accordance with the trilateral statement of the President of Russia, the President of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia, under the control of the Russian peacekeeping forces," he said, adding that more than two thousands of refugees returned from Armenia to their homes in one day.

On November 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint statement on a complete ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Russian leader said the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides would remain on the positions they hold and Russian peacekeepers would be deployed to the region. Besides, Armenia and Azerbaijan should carry out the exchange of prisoners of war and the bodies of those killed. Aghdam region will be returned to Azerbaijan before November 20, Kelbajar region - before November 15, Lachin region - before December 1. Later, Baku gave Yerevan postponement for troops withdrawal from Kelbajar until November 25.