As a result of a joint operation carried out by the State Security Service and the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, a group of 62 Armenian terrorist-saboteurs purposefully deployed by Armenia in the liberated territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan was detained and handed over for investigation. This was stated in the response of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia dated January 9, 2021.
"All the detainees were called up from the Shirak region of Armenia to serve in the Armenian armed forces and were sent to the territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan to commit acts of sabotage and terrorism against members of its Armed Forces and civilians." The investigation revealed that the members of the Armenian terrorist-sabotage group were sent to Azerbaijan on November 26, 2020, after the entry into force of the ceasefire signed by the Presidents of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation and the Prime Minister of Armenia.
The group committed terrorist acts against Azerbaijani servicemen and civilians, killing and injuring members of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces and civilians. "As the members of the sabotage group were sent to Azerbaijan to engage in sabotage and terrorist activities after the ceasefire, they are not considered prisoners of war in accordance with international humanitarian law and are liable in accordance with the criminal legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan." It is noted in the response of the Ministry.