According to the statement signed by the Presidents of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Russian Federation and the Prime Minister of Armenia on November 10, 2020, after the ceasefire was declared, some Armenian armed forces remained in the forest area in the northwestern part of Hadrut settlement of Khojavend region of Azerbaijan. The statement came from the Defense Ministry and the State Security Service. Citing Armenian official circles, the Armenian media reported that the armed groups were lost in the woods. The Armenian side appealed to the command of the peacekeeping forces of the Russian Federation to expel them from the territory. The Azerbaijani side provided all the conditions for the withdrawal of the mentioned Armenian armed groups from the territory.
The servicemen of the Russian peacekeeping forces arrived in the area in difficult weather conditions and appealed to the Armenian armed groups in the forest area by means of loudspeakers and said that necessary measures were taken to evacuate them from the area. In general, the peacekeeping forces of the Russian Federation performed their duties responsibly and professionally to maintain the ceasefire and to evacuate the so-called "missing" Armenian servicemen from the area. These Armenian armed groups did not leave the territory, but created battle positions and in recent days committed acts of terrorism and sabotage against Azerbaijani civilians and servicemen in the area. Thus, on November 26, 2020, in the village of Sur, Khojavend region, which was liberated from occupation, 3 servicemen were killed and 2 were wounded as a result of a sudden attack by Armenians on the Ministry of Defense. and one serviceman was killed and an Azercell employee was seriously injured during the installation of transmission equipment.
Taking into account the above, the State Security Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan was forced to conduct an anti-terrorist operation in the area. It is unacceptable for some Armenian leaders and the Armenian media to make baseless allegations against the Russian peacekeeping forces and the Azerbaijani side in such cases. The Armenian side must ensure the implementation of the provisions of the tripartite statement, support the maintenance of the ceasefire and peace, refrain from provocations, deliberate aggravation of the situation and use of such cases for domestic political purposes through the remaining Armenian armed groups or remnants of the Armenian armed forces. .
Adhering to the provisions of the tripartite declaration, the Republic of Azerbaijan continues its efforts to ensure peace in the region in close coordination and cooperation with the peacekeeping forces of the Russian Federation.