Military commentator Rashad Suleymanov published a status on his Facebook page in which he expressed dissatisfaction with the demonstration of video footage that proves that the NKR Air Force helicopter was shot down in the Armenian territory and it did not even try to attack the Azerbaijani positions; this contradicts the version of the events presented by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.
“If tomorrow war starts, there will be no need to send journalists to the front line. There’s our military armed with Ipad-s and phones,” outrages the military commentator and notes that the grandparents too sitting by the road with their iPhones in their hands will work as journalists.
In another status a Suleymanov outrages with the inaction of the official structures of Azerbaijan in connection with the distribution of the footage. “I bring to the attention of Alaftun [Amashev] that the video footage of the downed helicopter published by our media contradicts with the official information of the Defense Ministry. I say this as a person familiar with military affairs and the line of contact,” Suleymanov writes.
He also notes that Azerbaijan cannot carry out war with a press, where work deserters who “escape” from the army and do not understand anything in military life.
It is noteworthy that one of the participants of the discussion – a user named Ruslan Rahimov draws attention to the fact that the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan itself extended the screenshots of this very video. Another participant of the discussion – military expert Uzeir Jafarov confesses that he is the author of this video, and notes that the Defense Ministry would spread a video footage with better quality, if it was available.
“Rashad, I understand your concern, but no need to worry. Perhaps you are concerned with the fact that the military servicemen tell the commander “hit” and that the second helicopter moves off. PERMISSION was granted officially. The soldiers were simply a bit in a hurry. Ilkin just clicked on the “button”, Jafarov says.
Another panellist – user named Hagani Safaroglu notes that the official statement of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry about the attacking helicopter and the video footage published in the Azerbaijani media apparently contradict each other. “What this amateurishness means? Defense Ministry is obliged to give an explanation,” the user writes.
After this discussion, Aflatun Amashov, the chairman of the Press Council of Azerbaijan, issued a statement condemning the media for dissemination of the video. “No journalist could have taken the moment when the helicopter was shot down. In this case, question arises – how could the media get this footage. I think that this should be seriously investigated,” Amashev stated.
As NKR Defense Ministry press service reported earlier, on November 12, at around 1:45 pm, Nagorno Karabakh Air Forces’ Mi-24 helicopter was shot by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces during military training flight in the airspace in the eastern section of Karabakh – Azerbaijan Line of Contact. The land, on which the incident occurred, is in close proximity to the line of contact. Opponent after the incident continued intense bombardment scene from weapons of different caliber. The place where the helicopter was shot is close to the Line of Contact. The enemy continued to fire shots from weapons of different calibers after the incident.
Meanwhile, the press secretary of Armenian Defense Minister Artsrun Hovhannisyan wrote on his Facebook page that Azerbaijani Armed Forces have carried out an unprecedented provocation on the border with the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh; this has also led to escalation of the situation. In the same time the fabrications of the Azerbaijani side, as if the Armenian helicopters had attacked their positions and they allegedly had merely responded to this step, are senseless. “The study of the wreckage of the helicopter will confirm that he was not armed. The escalation of the Azerbaijani side has continued even after the helicopter fall down. Moreover, the Azerbaijani side continued shelling, not allowing even to get closer to the pilots. The consequences of this unprecedented escalation will be very harmful for the Azerbaijani side and will remain as a stain on the conscience of the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan. Captain of the helicopter was Major Sergei Sahakyan. Information about the fate of the crew will be given later,” Artsrun Hovhannisyan stated.