STEPANAKERT—The crash site of an unarmed Mi-24 helicopter downed by Azerbaijan last week, which resulted in the death of three Armenian servicemen, is being protected by Armenian forces who are close to gaining control, Artsakh’s Ministry of Defense reported Friday.
The crash site has been under heavy fire from the Azerbaijani side since the helicopter was downed on Nov. 12, making it impossible for Armenian workers to reach the site and retrieve the bodies of the three servicemen on board, who are presumed dead.
“The adversary used weapons of different caliber, including grenades, as it violated the truce about 190 times the night of November 21,” a statement from Artsakh’s Defense Ministry said.
The statement added that Artsakh troops have taken all necessary measures to protect the crash site and the surrounding frontline area.
On Wednesday, Nov. 12, an unarmed Mi-24 helicopter belonging to the Artsakh Air Force was shot down by the Azerbaijani armed forces while conducting an exercise flight. The Commander of the staff was the Major Sergey Sahakyan, accompanied by Senior Lieutenant Sarkis Nazaryan and Lieutenant Azat Sahakyan.
Kudos to our courageous servicemen and servicewomen of Artsakh! We have no doubt in your abilities to defend Armenian interests. Your dedicated service to your country and its grateful people continues to make Armenians around the world very proud.
I think it was wrong to shoot it down. But t crashed in Azeri’s land. Does that mean it is over Azeri land when it was shot down?
The Azeris should have released the bodies. Shame.
A NATO general and a group of Turkish commandos visited the vicinity of the crash site 4 days BEFORE the attack on Artsakh helicopter!!
http://contact.az/docs/2014/Politics/110900095972en.htm#.VG_s9sluoo8
” The Commander of the Turkish Army Special Forces, General Zekai Aksakally and the Turkish military accompanying him visited the contact line between the armed forces of Azerbaijan and Armenia yesterday.
As reported by the press service of the Defense Ministry, the General was acquainted with the combat readiness of the Azerbaijani units and with the security, morale, social and living conditions.
General Aksakally talked to soldiers serving on the frontline. He then went on the training ground, where he familiarized himself with the preparation of tank teams and snipers.”
I am glad we took the site. On the Azeri dogs need to be dealt an incredible low so they know their loutrine. God bless our Armenia