The Open Society Foundations are urging the international community to take immediate steps to reinforce a ceasefire along Armenia’s border with Azerbaijan, after an outbreak of intense fighting that has killed more than 200 military personnel over the past week.
Azerbaijani forces began shelling Armenian territory earlier this week, including civilian infrastructure, and subsequently seized territory on the Armenian side of the international border.
“What we are seeing is another clear case of aggression by a large country against a smaller, politically-isolated neighbor,” said Daniela Schwarzer, Executive Director of Open Society’s Europe & Central Asia region.
“We urge the EU and the UN to take steps to ensure that Azerbaijani troops leave Armenia and the fighting does not resume, including through the deployment of ceasefire monitoring teams, and through diplomatic pressure on Baku to return to peace talks.”