YEREVAN (RFE-RL)–Mountainous Karabagh’s armed forces will start on Tuesday annual exercises which the leadership of the Armenian-populated disputed region says are aimed at testing and improving their strength.
In a statement on Monday–the Defense Ministry of Mountainous Karabagh Republic said the ten-day war games will take place to "review the combat readiness of the Defense Army when it is brought to a state of highest alert." They are also meant to improve "the process of troops’ inter-operability during defensive and counter-offensive operations," the statement said.
The Karabagh military also said that the exercises are part of its regular training plan for this year. Officials in Stepanakert said the exercises would be attended by army reservists and involve the use of live ammunition by light and heavy weapons.
The precise venue of the drills was not specified.
