Military developments

On 4 November, the spokesperson of Armenia’s Ministry of Defence, Shushan Stepanyan, reported that fighting was underway between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces near Shusha. 

In an interview with Armenian newspaper Hraparak,  the de facto mayor of the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh, Stepanakert/Khankandi, Davit Sargsyan stated that 40% of the city has been destroyed since the fighting began. He also said that from a population of 55,000, roughly 30% still remain in the city. It was also reported that a total of 46 civilians have been killed since the fighting began and 144 have been injured.  

The Azerbaijani MOD reported that villages in the Tartar, Aghjabadi, and Aghdam regions were shelled. In addition, it was reported that the Azerbaijani Army gained control of Mirek and Kavdar villages in the Jabrayil region, Meshediismayilli and Shefibeyli villages in the Zengilan region, Basharat, Garakishiler and Garajalli villages in the Gubadli region. Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General reported that a total of 91 civilians have been killed, and 405 injured since the fighting began. 

Political developments

The head of Armenia’s Permanent Parliamentary Commission on Foreign Relations, Ruben Rubinyan, stated that consultations between Armenian and Russian authorities on the size and type of Russian military assistance, in line with the two countries’ Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, were currently underway. 

The same fact was confirmed by Armenia’s  former Minister of Defence, Lieutenant General Vagharshak Harutyunyan. He added that  Russia has already intervened, saying that the Russian army was stationed in Yeraskh, an Armenian village near the Lachin corridor. 

In an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, the Azerbaijani President talked about Armenia’s foreign policy during the conflict. Aliyev stressed that the statements of Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan about a “second genocide” were absolutely false. "There are thousands of Armenians living in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is a multi-ethnic, multi-confessional country. Therefore, talking about the so-called 'genocide' is absolutely unacceptable and this is another [false claim]… they want to present… And as I said, and I am responsible for what I am saying, those Armenians who live in Nagorno-Karabakh can be sure that their security will be provided," Aliyev said.

Azerbaijan’s State Security Service announced that it has opened up a criminal case against a number of individuals who made unauthorised video recordings in conflict zones.  “The unauthorized video shootings were made by a number of persons using technical capabilities of mobile phone devices on the territories where the combat operations are conducted, various video materials allowing for obtaining information about the strategic and operational plans, dislocation and displacements, other combat provision, operational condition of the Azerbaijani troops were disseminated,” the statement read. 

Armenia’s Justice Minister Rustam Badasyan stated that his country was discussing all the opportunities for contacting international structures in connection with the alleged mercenaries in the zone of the Karabakh conflict. He also emphasised that Armenia has already opened criminal cases against two alleged Syrian mercenaries who were detained in the conflict zone.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow would do everything possible to end the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He added that he was confident that the opposing sides could achieve their goals through negotiations.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that a sustainable ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh would be difficult to achieve without agreements on effective control mechanisms. Lavrov emphasised that such mechanisms could include the use of various electronic devices, a hot line between Yerevan and Baku, observers under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and operations with the participation of military contingents. “However, it has not yet been possible to agree on all the parameters,” he added.