On September 20, 2023, at 13:00, the separatist regime in Karabakh announced that it was laying down its arms.
Sea-news.az reports that ongoing separatist activities in the region following the Patriotic War brought to the forefront the issue of Azerbaijan fully ensuring its sovereignty over its territories, leading to the launch of local anti-terrorist measures on September 19, 2023.
The operation began around 13:00 on September 19. According to the Ministry of Defense, positions, long-term firing points, combat assets, and military-designated objects of the Armenian armed forces units located on the frontline and in-depth were rendered inoperable within the framework of the measures.
During the night hours, the Ministry of Defense issued a call regarding the laying down of arms in the area where the anti-terrorist measures were being conducted. However, combat operations continued on September 20.
On that day, during a telephone conversation with then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, President Ilham Aliyev announced the conditions for halting the anti-terrorist measures.
“Anti-terrorist measures will be suspended if weapons are laid down and disarmament takes place,” the President stated.
It was reported that the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan had repeatedly invited representatives of the Armenian residents living in the Karabakh region to dialogue in order to discuss reintegration issues. However, these invitations were not accepted. While the anti-terrorist measures were underway, those representatives were once again invited to dialogue.
Finally, on September 20, 2023, at 13:00, taking into account the appeal of the Armenian residents of Karabakh, an agreement was reached to suspend the local anti-terrorist measures.
According to the terms of the agreement:
- The units of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed detachments located in the Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan had to lay down their arms, withdraw from combat positions and military posts, and be fully disarmed. The departure of the Armenian armed forces units from Azerbaijani territories and the dissolution of illegal Armenian armed detachments were envisaged.
- The handover of all weapons, ammunition, and heavy equipment had to be ensured.
- It was envisaged that the mentioned processes would be implemented in coordination with the Russian peacekeeping contingent.
On that same day, President Ilham Aliyev announced in his address to the nation that the anti-terrorist measures had concluded and that Azerbaijan had restored its state sovereignty.
