Protests Erupt in Armenian Capital as Conflict Intensifies in Nagorno-Karabakh

Storyful
1 年前

Protests erupted in the Armenian capital of Yerevan on Tuesday, September 19, after Azerbaijani forces launched a military assault on parts of the Armenia-controlled region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Footage by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) shows crowds gathered outside government buildings and clashing with police on Tuesday evening.

According to reports, protesters called for Armenia Prime Minister Nikol Pashninyan to resign after he said Armenia would not take military action against Azerbaijan for the attacks.

On Tuesday morning, Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry said “anti-terrorism measures” were conducted in the contested region.

“In order to … suppress large-scale provocations in the Karabakh economic region, disarm and withdraw formations of the Armed Forces of Armenia from our territories … local anti-terrorist measures have been launched in the region,” they said in a statement, adding that “civilians and civilian infrastructure” were not being targeted.

By Tuesday night, local Karabakh officials said at least 27 people died, including two civilians, and over 200 were injured by Tuesday’s violence.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for an “immediate end” to the hostilities and for direct dialogue between the opposing sides. Credit: RFE/RL via Storyful