Russian Military Expert Rules out Moscow's Interference in Karabakh Conflict

A retired Russian military official ruled out Moscow's intervention in the conflict in the Karabakh region alongside Armenia.

The senior Russian officer also reduced the possibility of Russia sending peace-keeping forces to that region.

In statements to "Interfax", a Russian –spoken news agency, today, Saturday, retired Lieutenant General Evgeny Boginsky, former head of the Directorate of International Agreements at the Russian Ministry of Defense, said that he excludes the Russian military intervention because of the importance of Azerbaijan for Russia is greater than starting a war against it and Turkey altogether.

Commenting on the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's appeal to the Russian president to request the start of consultations between the two countries regarding Russia's provision of assistance to Armenia in ensuring its security, Boginsky indicated that Moscow will be obligated to provide this assistance to Yerevan if the fighting moves from Karabakh to the territory of Armenia itself directly.

In this regard, the Russian expert said that Azerbaijan is keen not to transfer hostilities to the territory of Armenia, even though the Armenians are bombing the lands of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan has always succeeded in this because the reasons for Russian military intervention are still non-existent.

Babinski also stated that it is not likely to send Russian peace-keeping forces to the conflict zone.

He stressed that it is theoretically possible, but this requires the consent of Azerbaijan.

On his part, the Turkish President will urge Azerbaijan to demand the participation of Turkey, as well, in the peacekeeping operation there.

Turkey's participation as a peacekeeping force in the conflict would be unacceptable to the Armenians.

According to the Russian expert, the best way out of the impasse is a cessation of hostilities.

He advises Armenia to hand over a number of areas in Karabakh to Azerbaijan.

Earlier in the day, the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported that the Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which he asked him to determine the form of assistance in ensuring the security of Armenia.