Nagorno-Karabakh: Azerbaijan mistakenly shoots down Russian army helicopter

An image of the fighting between the Armed Forces of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the outskirts of Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh on November 1, 2020 (illustrative image).

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Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

A Russian helicopter was shot down in Armenia not far from the border with Azerbaijan.

Baku admitted to being at the origin of the missile fire which caused the fall of the apparatus and the death of two of the three crew members.

Azerbaijan mentions an "accident" and apologizes to Russia.

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With our correspondent in Moscow,

Daniel Vallot

It was in the early evening that the aircraft crashed.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry's statement, the helicopter was hit by a missile while accompanying a column of vehicles belonging to the Russian army.

The aircraft flew over the surroundings of an Armenian village located not far from the border with Azerbaijan.

Also according to the Russian Defense Ministry, two members of the crew died.

The third, still alive, was able to be evacuated to one of the two Russian military bases located in Armenia.

For now, the Russian reaction remains very cautious.

Moscow is satisfied to affirm that an investigation will be carried out to determine the origin of the shooting.

But Azerbaijan has already admitted its responsibility for the fall of the helicopter.

Baku claims that it was an accident, caused in particular by the darkness, and by the fact that the helicopter was flying at low altitude.

► To read also: Nagorno-Karabakh: the population of the capital Stepanakert evacuated

For Azerbaijan, it is necessary to avoid at all costs provoking an incident which would involve the military involvement of Russia in the current conflict.

So far, Moscow has remained on the fence, saying military intervention is ruled out as long as Armenia's territorial integrity is respected.

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  • Nagorno-Karabakh

  • Azerbaijan

  • Russia

  • Armenia

  • Defense