Russia withdraws peacekeepers and transfers full control over Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan

Russian troops are withdrawing from Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh region, where they have been stationed as a peacekeeping force since the war ended in 2020, officials from both countries said Tuesday.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, during a video conference with reporters, confirmed the information about the withdrawal of troops, but did not provide details.

Hikmet Hajiyev, head of the foreign policy department in the Azerbaijani presidential administration, confirmed the conclusion, saying it was agreed upon by both countries, but did not explain why Russian troops were leaving the enclave despite acknowledging that the Russian presence had become unnecessary after Azerbaijan’s return. complete control of the region last year.