"After the announcement of the ceasefire following the deal signed by the Presidents of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Russian Federation and the Prime Minister of Armenia on November 10, 2020, several armed forces of Armenia remained in the forest zone in the north-western part of the village of Hadrut in the Khojavend region of Azerbaijan," reads a joint statement by the Ministry of Defense and the State Security Service of Azerbaijan.
"Armenian media outlets reported that the armed formations were hiding in the forest. The Armenian side appealed to the command of Russia's peacekeeping forces with a request to remove them. The Azerbaijani side ensured all conditions for the withdrawal of the indicated Armenian armed forces from the area.
The Russian peacekeepers arrived in the area in difficult weather conditions, addressed the Armenian armed formations in the forest zone over a speakerphone, and informed them about the necessary measures to evacuate them from the area.
The Russian peacekeeping forces responsibly and professionally fulfilled their duties to maintain the ceasefire and evacuate the so-called "missing" Armenian servicemen. However, the Armenian formations did not leave the area but created combat positions and committed terrorist acts, sabotage, and diversion against Azerbaijan's civilians and military personnel.
On November 26, 2020, as a result of a surprise attack on Azerbaijani service members in the village of Sur in the Khojavend region, three Azerbaijani servicemen were killed and two were wounded. On December 8, near Hadrut, one serviceman was killed, and an employee of Azercell was severely injured during the installation of communication equipment," the statement reads.
The statement says that the State Security Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan was forced to carry out an anti-terrorist operation in the area.
"The Armenian side must ensure the implementation of the provisions of the trilateral statement, support the observance of the ceasefire and peace regime, refrain from provocations by the remaining Armenian armed formations or remnants of the Armenian armed forces, deliberately aggravating the situation and using such cases for domestic political purposes.
Under the provisions of the trilateral declaration, the Republic of Azerbaijan continues its efforts to ensure peace in the region in close coordination and cooperation with the Russian peacekeeping forces," the joint statement of the Ministry of Defense and the State Security Service of Azerbaijan, reads.
