Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend S.Agayeva / Russia does not send its arms which have been withdrawn from Georgia, to Nagorno-Karabakh, said the Ambassador of Russia to Azerbaijan, Vasili Istratov, on 29 November commenting on the information spread in the Azerbaijani media regarding the placement of Russian armaments in the Azerbaijan territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and other territories occupied by Armenia.
Earlier the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan stated that part of Russia's military equipment withdrawn from Georgia was placed in Azerbaijan's occupied territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia placed nearly 70% of its military equipment, withdrawn from Georgia, in the 102 military base in the Armenian city of Gurmi. Due to the political situation between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the placement of Russian military equipment in Gurmi increases the risks of a war outbreak.
Azerbaijan considers that Russia's position presents obstacles for a peaceful settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh. The Defense Ministry in Armenia refuted the statement of the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan that part of the Russian military equipment, withdrawn from Georgia, was placed in Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Ambassador said that Russia has repeatedly highlighted this at meetings with the senior officials of Azerbaijan. According to him, the Russian military equipment which is located in Russia's military bases in Armenia cannot be used against Azerbaijan because they are in hands of the Russian military.
