Zannier: OSCE concerned over helicopter crash in Nagorno Karabakh

The OSCE is concerned over the crash of MI-24 helicopter in Nagorno Karabakh and believes that such incidents can expand the scope of the crisis, OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.

Such catastrophes can lead to a broader crisis in the context of a situation that is increasingly unstable, Zannier said at a hearing in the European Parliament.

The press service of Defense Ministry of the NKR reported earlier today that as a result of a ceasefire violation by Azerbaijani troops, a MI-24 helicopter of the NKR Air Force was shot down during a training flight around 1:45 pm local time in the airspace over the eastern part of the Karabakh-Azerbaijani border. The crash site is in close vicinity of the Line of Contact. After the crash the Azerbaijani side continued firing at the crash site.

Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan wrote on his Facebook page that the Azerbaijani armed forces made an unprecedented provocation on the border with Nagorno Karabakh and the provocation has escalated the situation. He considered as senseless the Azerbaijani side’s claims that Armenian helicopters allegedly attacked their positions and they had to respond to that action. “Examination of the helicopter’s wreckage will show that there was no military equipment on board. The Azerbaijani side continued escalation even after the helicopter crashed. Moreover, the Azerbaijani side continued gunfire, not allowing anyone to approach the pilots. The consequences of this unprecedented escalation will be painful for the Azerbaijani side and the responsibility will lie with Azerbaijan’s military and political leadership. Major Sergey Sahakyan was the helicopter’s commander. Information about the fate of the crew will be released later,” A. Hovhannisyan wrote.