BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 21. Armenian separatists [in Karabakh] have laid down their arms, French journalist, military expert Jean-Dominique Merchet said, Trend reports.
"These are facts. Armenian separatist forces in Karabakh said they accepted the terms of the ceasefire agreement on Wednesday after a series of failures in the fight against the Azerbaijani Army, which launched anti-terrorist measures," he noted.
He also added that Azerbaijan's anti-terrorist activities in Karabakh changed the situation in less than 24 hours.
"The so-called "election" held on September 9 in Karabakh, which according to international law is part of Azerbaijan, became a "red line" for Baku. Azerbaijan accused Armenia of having about 10,000 troops in Karabakh, of which 3,000 were recruited from local residents, but Yerevan denied this, although not very convincingly. Such a presence contradicted the 2020 agreements," Merchet said.
"Azerbaijani armed forces drones and artillery struck military facilities (radars, anti-aircraft guns) and took control of 90 fighting positions on the line of contact. Baku claims that Azerbaijani troops did not target civilians and civilian objects. Azerbaijan's anti-terrorist measures, which began on Tuesday afternoon, achieved their goals in less than 24 hours. Armenian illegal armed groups failed to resist and surrendered," he wrote.
According to the journalist, the agreement mediated by the Russian peacekeeping contingent, which came into force at 13:00 (GMT+4) on Wednesday, provides for the disarmament of Armenian illegal armed formations in Karabakh and their withdrawal from the region. On Thursday, representatives of Karabakh's Armenian residents and Azerbaijani officials held reintegration talks. In a word, the Armenian separatists have been defeated.
Jean-Dominique Merchet noted that the geopolitical map of the South Caucasus is changing.
Speaking about the future of the Armenian population of Karabakh within Azerbaijan, the journalist emphasized that Baku declared the right of the Armenian residents of Karabakh to remain living in their homes, they are offered reintegration through negotiations with their representatives.