Friday, November 13, 2020

Vucic calls Kosovo with war as in Nagorno-Karabakh,

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Serbian President Vucic has convened the High Council of National Security of Serbia, to conclude in some very important decisions, the progress of talks with Kosovo, but it seems that Serbia is taking measures for an outbreak of ethnic violence in Kosovo, for which has also informed the Serbian people, stating that Serbia is ready to intervene with troops in Kosovo.

The dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia is in an insecure and unclear situation. Kosovar institutions indicate that the dialogue is inactive and that no meeting is foreseen, while the statements received from the European Union claim that the dialogue is ongoing but at the level of experts. Meanwhile, a statement issued yesterday by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has stirred the waters. The President of Serbia warned yesterday that if a compromise is not reached with Kosovo through EU-mediated talks, then the "frozen" conflict may be "thawed" in the future, indicating the type of conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. 

Vucic has vowed that whatever happens with the talks in Brussels, Belgrade will continue to strengthen itself economically and militarily to defend the country at all times from any possible aggressor. "For me, it is important to tell you that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict showed how a frozen conflict can escalate into a real catastrophe. One reason is that we should not leave our children in a frozen conflict. "Compromise does not mean that we will achieve it, we need two sides," Vucic said. As the Serbian president further states, the world, apart from statements, is not ready to react and whatever happens, you must ultimately rely on your own strength. 

"That is why Serbia will continue to strengthen economically and militarily," Vucic was quoted as saying by foreign media. it is important to tell you that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict showed how a frozen conflict could escalate into a real catastrophe. One reason is that we should not leave our children in a frozen conflict. "Compromise does not mean that we will achieve it, it takes two sides," Vucic said. As the Serbian president further states, the world, apart from statements, is not ready to react and whatever happens, you must ultimately rely on your own strength.

 "That is why Serbia will continue to strengthen economically and militarily," Vucic was quoted as saying by foreign media. it is important to tell you that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict showed how a frozen conflict could escalate into a real catastrophe. One reason is that we should not leave our children with a frozen conflict. "Compromise does not mean that we will achieve it, it takes two sides," Vucic said. As the Serbian president further states, the world, apart from statements, is not ready to react and whatever happens, you must ultimately rely on your own strength. "That is why Serbia will continue to strengthen economically and militarily," Vucic was quoted as saying by foreign media. says Vucic. 

As the Serbian president further states, the world, apart from statements, is not ready to react and whatever happens, you must ultimately rely on your own strength. "That is why Serbia will continue to strengthen economically and militarily," Vucic was quoted as saying by foreign media. says Vucic. As the Serbian president further states, the world, apart from statements, is not ready to react and whatever happens, you must ultimately rely on your own strength. "That is why Serbia will continue to strengthen economically and militarily," Vucic was quoted as saying by foreign media.

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Αλβανία: Νέα Αμνηστία σε όσους έκλεψαν όπλα από τις στρατιωτικές αποθήκες

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Αλβανοί με όπλα που έκλεψαν από το στρατόπεδο 'Pasaliman' το 1997

Νοέμβριος 11, 2020. News

Τίρανα.

Περίπου 325 χιλιάδες όπλα βρίσκονται ακόμη στα χέρια των Αλβανών πολιτών, από το πλιάτσικο που έγινε το 1997 στις στρατιωτικές αποθήκες της χώρας, αυτό αναφέρει σχετικό τοπικό δημοσίευμα.

Στη διάρκεια αυτών των 23 ετών έχουν γίνει άλλες τρεις δράσεις για αμνηστία σε πολίτες που έκλεψαν στρατιωτικά όπλα, προκειμένου να τα παραδώσουν στο αλβανικό κράτος. Τώρα είναι η τέταρτη, καθώς η κυβέρνηση και η Συνέλευση θα εγκρίνουν αμνηστία για άλλη μια φορά για την εθελοντική παράδοση των κλεμμένων όπλων και πυρομαχικών.



«Στην Αλβανία, θα δρομολογηθεί εθνική δράση για τον εντοπισμό και τη συλλογή όπλων, πυρομαχικών και εκρηκτικών υλών, που λεηλατήθηκαν από αποθήκες κατά τη διάρκεια των ταραχών το 1997, καταλήγοντας στα χέρια του άμαχου πληθυσμού, ιδίως εγκληματικών ομάδων και ατόμων με υψηλό κοινωνικό κίνδυνο. Η Κυβέρνηση και η Συνέλευση αναμένεται να υιοθετήσουν αμνηστία για παράνομη κατοχή όπλων, να ενθαρρύνουν τους Αλβανούς να παραδώσουν εθελοντικά όπλα και πυρομαχικά, χωρίς να τους επιβάλουν ποινική ευθύνη. Η αμνηστία μπορεί να διαρκέσει από 6 μήνες έως δύο χρόνια», όπως σημειώνει η αλβανική Σκιπτάρια.



Η πρόταση διατυπώθηκε σήμερα από τον βουλευτή του Σοσιαλιστικού Κόμματος, Τζεμάλ Κιεφάλια, στην Επιτροπή Εθνικής Ασφάλειας, κατά τη διάρκεια της συνάντησης όπου εξετάστηκε μια νομική πρωτοβουλία για ορισμένες αλλαγές του νόμου περί όπλων του 2014.

 «... ώστε να υποβληθεί μια προσθήκη ή τροποποίηση (του υπάρχοντος νόμου) για να ξεκινήσει μια άλλη αμνηστία για την εθελοντική παράδοση όπλων, σε συνεργασία με τις τοπικές αρχές», είπε ο Κιεφάλια. 





 Φωτό από τις αναταραχές του '97 στην Αλβανία


Η πρόταση χαιρετίστηκε από τον Αναπληρωτή Υπουργό Εσωτερικών, Μπέσφορτ Λαμαλάρι, ο οποίος είπε ότι αυτές οι εκστρατείες είχαν επιτυχία στο παρελθόν.

Εάν εγκριθεί, αυτή θα είναι η τέταρτη αμνηστία για τη συλλογή όπλων στην Αλβανία. Η τελευταία αμνηστία είχε διάρκεια 4 μήνες το 2017, όπου συλλέχθηκαν 1604 πυροβόλα όπλα διαφόρων τύπων και χιλιάδες πυρομαχικά.

 Σήμερα στα χέρια των Αλβανών υπάρχουν 325 χιλιάδες όπλα παράνομα.

 Το 1997, κλέφθηκαν 549.775 όπλα, 839.310.038 πυρομαχικά και 16.000.000 εκρηκτικά.

 Κατά την περίοδο Μαρτίου-Ιουνίου του ‘97, συλλέχθηκαν 222.918 όπλα, 118.134.222 πυρομαχικά και 1.539.828 εκρηκτικά.

Θετικός στον κορονοϊό ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αναστάσιος – Μεταφέρεται με C-130 στην Αθήνα

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Γιώργος Μύτιλης 11 Νοεμβρίου, 2020






Θετικός στον κορωνοϊό διαγνώστηκε ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αλβανίας, Αναστάσιος.

Αεροσκάφος C 130 της ελληνικής πολεμικής αεροπορίας κατευθύνεται στα Τίρανα, σύμφωνα με αποκλειστικές πληροφορίες του ΑΠE-ΜΠΕ, προκειμένου να τον μεταφέρει για νοσηλεία στην Αθήνα.

Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος υπεβλήθη σε σχετικά τεστ σε ιατρικό κέντρο των Τιράνων τα οποία έδειξαν ότι έχει προσβληθεί από κορωνοϊό.

Αν και τα συμπτώματα εμφανίζονται σε ελαφρά μορφή, οι γιατροί στα Τίρανα έκριναν αναγκαία τη μεταφορά και νοσηλεία του σε εξειδικευμένη κλινική στην Ελλάδα, δεδομένου του προχωρημένου της ηλικίας του αλλά και κάποιων χρόνιων προβλημάτων υγείας.

Ο πρωθυπουργός Κυριάκος Μητσοτάκης ενημερώθηκε για το θέμα και έδωσε την συγκατάθεσή του για την μετάβαση του εξοπλισμένου με ειδική μονάδα C 130 στα Τίρανα προκειμένου να γίνει η μεταφορά του ιεράρχη.

Πηγή: ΑΠΕ

Is it end of an era in Kosovo?

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Country facing a period of uncertainty as president resigns following court’s approval of war crimes indictment

Dzihat Aliju   |
07.11.2020
ANALYSIS - Is it end of an era in Kosovo?

     




The question of whether the members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK), which played a big role in the independence of the country, are being purged from their administrative seats following the resignation of President Hashim Thaci upon the approval of the war crimes indictment prepared by the Kosovo Specialist Prosecutor's Office by the court in The Hague, is left unanswered.

The spiral of events began with the court’s invitation for Kosovo's former Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj to testify as a "suspect" in 2019, shortly after which Haradinaj stepped down from his post. Since the beginning of 2019, the court also invited tens of members of now defunct UCK to The Hague to testify by filing indictments against them. With the approval of Thaci’s indictment as well, many state officials -- especially those at the highest level -- were “cleared” by the court.

Thaci’s term of office was set to end in April 2021 as he took office in April 2016. He had the constitutional right of getting elected for another final term of five years.

Thaci being one of the founders and senior commanders of the UCK as well, the most striking aspect of his statement was that he made the decision to resign while "respecting our partnership with the international community." He said: "I resign from the position of the President of the Republic of Kosovo, protecting the integrity of the Kosovo Presidency, the integrity of the Kosovo state, the integrity and dignity of the people of Kosovo, also while respecting our partnership with the international community."

It was also remarkable that Thaci described the trials accepted by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers for the names who have risen to the highest ranks of the youngest nation in Europe in the last 10 years and led the UCK through its fight for independence as “a small price that had to be paid for the freedom and building of Kosovo.”

Signaling that he is ready to make the necessary sacrifices, Thaci handed over his position to Speaker of the Parliament Vjosa Osmani in accordance with the constitution. If cleared before the end of his term, Thaci will be able to reclaim his position, and also get to run for president once more, as the constitution allows it.

Following his resignation on Thursday, Thaci was rushed to The Hague, where the trial will be held, alongside former Speakers of the Parliament Kadri Veseli and Jakup Krasniqi and Recep Selimi, his comrade from the UCK. A statement by the Kosovo Specialist Prosecutor’s Office said that these high-level names were placed in a detention center in The Hague.

In September, Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic signed the “Kosovo and Serbia economic normalization agreements” at a ceremony attended by US President Donald Trump. The normalization of Israel-Kosovo relations, which were among the articles of the agreement, was suddenly on the world agenda. Considering the potential changes that might take place due to the presidential elections in the US, there are many questions on the future of this agreement still seeking answers.

The most profitable recent political formation: The Democratic League of Kosovo

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) led by Isa Mustafa, a former Kosovar president, ended up being the most profitable political formation in light of all these developments. Mustafa’s re-seizing all of the important positions in the country following his fall from the government in 2017 via the vote of confidence with the support of Hashim Thaci's party, the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), is another highlight of the tough “game of thrones” that Kosovo is witnessing.

Following the fall of the government in 2017, Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj resigned due to the "indictment" within as few as two years. The leader of LDK, which was the second most voted party in the early general elections held in November 2019, could still not become the prime minister while ending up being in the government. Levizja Vetevendosje (Self Determination Movement) leader Albin Kurti became the prime minister, while Vjosa Osmani from the LDK became the speaker of the parliament.

However, the term of office of this government was also very short. The LDK, which saw Kurti and the Self Determination Movement as an obstacle to the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, dropped the government of which it was a partner via vote of confidence in the parliament, while Avdullah Hoti from the LDK was given the task of re-establishing the government. It is a key concern what kind of a strategy the LDK, which -- albeit by proxy -- holds the presidency, the parliament and the prime ministry will follow in the future with these latest developments.

Is it a new president or another early election?

According to the Constitution of Kosovo, the presidential elections are expected to be held within 30 days following the end of the current president’s term. Considering that Speaker of the Parliament Osmani, who took office by proxy, can stay in her seat for a maximum of 6 months according to the Constitution, it is highly likely that the elections will be held in February or March 2021.

The president is elected in the parliament via the votes of the deputies. Any citizen who can get more than 30 deputies’ signatures can be a candidate and the candidate who receives two-thirds of the votes in the 120-seat parliament is elected as the president. In a case where none of the candidates could collect two-thirds of the votes in the first two rounds, there is a third round between the two candidates who have collected the most votes in the previous rounds, which ends with the most voted candidate becoming the president.

The distribution of the political parties within the parliament is another topic that needs attention. None of the parties are capable of winning the presidential seat on their own currently. The Self Determination Movement who has 29 deputies will be able to nominate a candidate only if it can convince the Serb List, a minority party with 10 deputies or other 10 deputies that represent minority groups in the country to support them. Political experts and columnists are stating that Kurti, who was dismissed as prime minister, can therefore rise to “power” through another path.

In case of the president not being elected, even after the third round, Kosovo will have to have its third early election and elect its fifth president within the last three years, which is dangerous. According to the Constitution, if no candidates are elected after the third round, the parliament is dismissed, and the country goes to an early election within the next 45 days.

It was also remarkable that Thaci described the trials accepted by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers for the names who have risen to the highest ranks of the youngest nation in Europe in the last 10 years and led the UCK through its fight for independence as “a small price that had to be paid for the freedom and building of Kosovo. Signaling that he is ready to make the necessary sacrifices, Thaci handed over his position to Speaker of the Parliament Vjosa Osmani in accordance with the constitution. If cleared before the end of his term, Thaci will be able to reclaim his position, and also get to run for president once more, as the constitution allows it.

Will Kosovo-Serbia dialogue be suspended once again?

The dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, which was suspended due to many reasons in the previous years, runs the risk of being suspended again due to these possibilities. It is a matter of concern how this dialogue process will be carried out in this political turmoil, as it has been frequently interrupted under the mediation of the EU since 2011.

On the other hand, Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic signed the “Kosovo and Serbia economic normalization agreements" in September at a ceremony attended by US President Donald Trump. The normalization of Israel-Kosovo relations, which were among the articles of the agreement, was suddenly on the world agenda. Considering the potential changes that might take place due to the presidential elections in the US, there are many questions on the future of this agreement still seeking answers.

None of the Serbian high-level officials who have committed genocide in the Balkans after the collapse of the former Yugoslavia and had a role in the massacres in Kosovo being punished or taken to court is another intriguing situation in Kosovo.

The people of Kosovo, who survived great difficulties and troubles in the Kosovo war in 1998-1999 (which could be described as a disaster for them), could not enjoy their independence in 2008 which came 10 years after this period. These people have experienced early general elections in the last 12 years since the independence and faced various obstacles in their process of state building, especially with the international "embargo" and they want nothing but peace as the novel coronavirus pandemic strikes the world with the second wave. It seems that a "fiery" winter awaits Kosovo which is still seeking visa liberation from EU member states despite meeting the necessary conditions.

*Opinions expressed in this article are the authors' own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Anadolu Agency.

**Translated by Can Atalay in Ankara

Εάν η Σερβία, θα είχαι AOZ με το Κοσσυφοπέδιο?

SManalysis
                                                                  
                                                                      Οι Σέρβοι διαμαρτύρονται στη Μιτρόβιτσα


Σταυρη  Μάρκο 
SManalysis

Φυσικά, το Βελιγράδι δεν παραιτήθηκε από το Κοσσυφοπέδιο, ακόμη και μετά την Αεροπορική Εκστρατεία του ΝΑΤΟ το 1999, αλλά, αντιθέτως, κατάφερε, μέσα σε δύο δεκαετίες, να δημιουργήσει ένα αντίθετο γεωπολιτικό κλίμα, για να προστατεύσει τους Σέρβους στο Κοσσυφοπέδιο. 

Εν τω μεταξύ, οι Έλληνες της Βόρειας Ηπείρου υφίστανται την ανευθυνότητα των αντιεθνικών πολιτικών της Αθήνας, ανεχόμενοι στο μέγιστο τον Εθνοκαθαρισμό που συμβαίνει στη Χιμάρα και σε όλη τη Βόρεια Ήπειρο, κάτι που οφείλεται στο AOZ με την Αλβανία, (κάτι που δεν αποτελεί δικαιολογία) , για την προστασία και επίτευξη μιας όσο το δυνατόν πλησιέστερης κατάστασης στους Σέρβους του Κοσσυφοπεδίου μέσω της ΕΕ, της Ένωσης Σερβικών Δήμων στο Κοσσυφοπέδιο

Το ζήτημα της Βόρειας Ηπείρου, ένα γεωπολιτικό προηγούμενο που θα έπρεπε να είχε επιλυθεί από την Ελλάδα (μέλος του ΝΑΤΟ και της ΕΕ), αμέσως μετά την πτώση της δικτατορίας στην Αλβανία μετά το 1991, αλλά αυτό δεν συμβαίνει ακόμη και τώρα που βρισκόμαστε στο τέλος του 2020.

Ενάντια στα στρατηγικά εθνικά συμφέροντα της Αθήνας, οι Έλληνες πολιτικοί που έχουν κυριαρχήσει κατά τη διάρκεια αυτών των ετών, προτίμησαν να παραμείνουν σιωπηλοί, ή τελικά, να παραδώσουν τη Βόρεια Ήπειρο στην Αλβανία, προκειμένου να «διαχειρίζονται» τις ενοποιητικές πολιτικές της ΕΕ. Αυτό θα ήταν πολύ υπερεκτιμημένο, αρκεί η ΕΕ να γίνει μια κοινότητα διεθνών συμφερόντων και να προωθήσει τη συμπερίληψη των Νοτιοδυτικών Βαλκανίων στην ευρωπαϊκή οικογένεια, "Όπως είναι" λόγω φόβων για τη Ρωσία, την Τουρκία ή την Κίνα.

Ας μην ξεχνάμε, έχουμε μια Σερβία, η οποία προστατεύει τα συμφέροντα των Σέρβων στο Κοσσυφοπέδιο, σε εθνικό επίπεδο, μια ενιαία πολιτική δύο δεκαετιών, η οποία σε σύγκριση με την Ελλάδα, πρώιμο μέλος του ΝΑΤΟ και της ΕΕ, άφησε τη μοίρα της στα χέρια της Βόρειας Ηπείρου, της Αλβανίας στην ΕΕ, για το μοναδικό γεγονός ότι η Ελλάδα έχει το πρωταρχικό της συμφέρον αυτές τις δεκαετίες, όπως και η AOZ, λέγοντας ανοιχτά στα Τίρανα: "Τι κάνεις, δώσε μας το AOZ για να πάρεις τη Βόρεια Ήπειρο" ..... μια αποτυχημένη εθνικιστική πολιτική της Ελλάδας.


                                              Κατασκευές αλβανικής μαφίας στην περιοχή Χειμάρρας 

Εν τω μεταξύ, σε αυτές τις δύο δεκαετίες, η Σερβία, η οποία καταστράφηκε από τον πόλεμο του Κοσσυφοπεδίου, βγήκε ισχυρότερη από την Ελλάδα πριν από δύο δεκαετίες, ήταν ο πυλώνας του οικονομικού σχεδίου του Σιμίτη για τα Βαλκάνια (Ξεχάσαμε 15 δισεκατομμύρια ευρώ, το οποίο θα έκανε την Ελλάδα ηγέτη οικονομική, και αντ 'αυτού, η Τουρκία αντικαταστάθηκε). Η Σερβία βγήκε ισχυρότερη, τόσο πολύ που επηρέασε τους Σέρβους να παραμείνουν ισχυροί στο Κοσσυφοπέδιο, εκφυλίζοντας παράλληλα μια προπαγάνδα εναντίον του KLA και των ηγετών του στη Χάγη και μετατρέποντας την εικόνα του Κοσσυφοπεδίου υπέρ του. Η Σερβία, χωρίς να έχει ΑΟΖ με το Κοσσυφοπέδιο, αλλά με εθνικό δίκτυο, κατάφερε να μπλοκάρει την αναγνώριση της ανεξαρτησίας του Κοσσυφοπεδίου, ενεργοποίησε το λόμπι της στις ΗΠΑ και επιρροές στο Στέιτ Ντιπάρτμεντ, για να υποστηρίξει τις πολιτικές της στα Βαλκάνια, τη Βοσνία και το Κοσσυφοπέδιο και πέτυχε. .

Από την άλλη πλευρά στο Νότο, Αθήνα ,,, δεν υπάρχει ειρήνη. Η Αλβανία, όπως πάντα, χλευάζει την Ελλάδα, καταλαμβάνει την ελληνική επικράτεια, φέρνει χιλιάδες Αλβανούς κάθε χρόνο, και πλήττει όλο και περισσότερο τη βόρεια Ήπειρο, επειδή επιδιώκει την AOZ, άλλοι, εθνικά συμφέροντα, έχει παραδοθεί. Ποτέ και σε καμία περίπτωση δεν έχει δει συγκεκριμένα στην Αθήνα, γιατί η κατάσταση AOZ θα εμποδίσει την ανάπτυξη της ελληνικής αυτοδιάθεσης στην επικράτειά τους στη Βόρεια Ήπειρο; Ποτέ. Λοιπόν, πώς είναι δυνατόν οι εθνικές πολιτικές να διαχωριστούν από την Αθήνα, εκτός από το AOZ και μόνο τη Βόρεια Ήπειρο; Δεν βλέπετε τι κάνει η Σερβία στο Κοσσυφοπέδιο, που για λίγο η Αθήνα ήθελε να αναγνωρίσει την Ανεξαρτησία, αλλά για τα συμφέροντά της AOZ με την Αλβανία;

Όμως η Σερβία πέτυχε μια ισχυρή νίκη στο Κοσσυφοπέδιο, επειδή δεν υπάρχει ΑΟΖ, δεν άφησε ποτέ τους Σέρβους να εγκαταλείπονται, με δυσκολίες, με συντάξεις και ανθρωπιστική βοήθεια, πέτυχε τον στόχο της, η Σερβία έχει κρατήσει καρφωμένο την αγάπη των Σέρβων στο Κοσσυφοπέδιο, ενώ η Ελλάδα , διαίρεσε για δεύτερη φορά τους Έλληνες της Βόρειας Ηπείρου, έκλεισε τα σύνορά τους, αφαίρεσε τις συντάξεις τους, περιόρισε τη χορήγηση υπηκοότητας και ανέχεται τα Τίρανα να πραγματοποιήσουν Εθνοκάθαρση στη Χιμάρα ....

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Vjosa Osmani suggests ending the dialogue with Serbia

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Acting President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani requested that the dialogue with Serbia be terminated due to the latest developments regarding the trials for war crimes

SOURCE: BETA TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2020 | 13:17

In an interview with Deutsche Welle, she assessed that it was not the time to continue the dialogue with Serbia, at a time when the Special Court is accusing the president and party leaders of war crimes.

"I think that due to the current events, now is not the time to continue the dialogue immediately. Kosovo institutions should take some time, consult with each other, create a much more unified position on dialogue, because it is necessary that everyone who negotiates on behalf of Kosovo presents a more unified stance of the political spectrum than just the coalition it represents", Osmani said.

She said she would contribute to this issue by talking to everyone about Kosovo's attitudes towards dialogue.

The President of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, Ramush Haradinaj, also requested the termination of the dialogue on the day when the indictment against Hashim Thaci, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi was confirmed.

Haradinaj's position was also stated by the Minister of Justice at the session of the Government of Kosovo last week, but he was rejected by the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Avdullah Hoti.

Monday, November 9, 2020

Russian Mi-24 Helicopter Crashes Near Armenian Village

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16:31 GMT 09.11.2020
The incident took place amid ongoing hostilities in the nearby disputed Karabakh region between Azerbaijani forces and the forces of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.

A Russian Mi-24 (NATO reporting name: Hind) military helicopter has crashed on the territory of Armenia near the village of Yeraskh after it was shot from the ground by unknown forces using a man-portable air-defence system (SAM), Russia’s Defence Ministry has stated. The crash was caused by a loss of control after a missile hit the aircraft, the ministry added.

At the time of the time of the attack, the helicopter was escorting a convoy of Russia’s 102nd military base, which is located in Armenia, as it was moving past Yeraskh, near the border with Azerbaijan's Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic. The incident resulted in the death of two of the helicopter’s crew members and another being hospitalised with moderate injuries.

The Defence Ministry noted that the command of the 102nd military base is currently investigating who shot at the Russian helicopter, noting that the incident took place outside the zone of active hostilities that have been taking place in the Nagorno-Karabakh region since September 2020. Armenia’s Defence Ministry, in turn, promised to help Russia in probing the attack on its Mi-24 helicopter.


The Mi-24 helicopter gunship was first introduced into the Soviet armed forces back in 1972, with the Russian military continuing to use it after the dissolution of the USSR. The helicopter has been used in numerous armed conflicts around the globe and its Mi-25 and Mi-35 variants have been actively exported. It is also considered the second most widely used gunship in the world after the AH-64 Apache.