Helicopter crashes in Russia, one crewmember was Armenian

November 26, 2015 By administrator

A helicopter crashed Thursday several minutes after taking off from Igarka Airport in Krasnoyarsk Krai (region), Russia.

According to preliminary information, the chopper’s crew comprised two pilots and one aircraft mechanic with considerable flight experience, and all of them died in the crash.

First pilot of the helicopter was Aleksandr Monakhov, 54.

Second pilot of the chopper was Armenian, Levon Tananyan, 53, reported LifeNews, which is a Russian news website and TV.

And the aircraft mechanic was Radik Valeev, 54.

Russia Deploys Mi-24 Helicopter Gunships to Syria Anti-ISIL Operation

October 6, 2015 By administrator

Russia has deployed Mi-24 helicopter gunships to Syria as part of its operation against ISIL targets.
Russia has deployed its notorious Mi-24 helicopter gunships to Syria, where they are part of the operation against Islamic State terrorist targets.
According to Colonel Igor Klimov of the Russian Air Force in Hmeymim Air Base in Syria, the Mi-24 helicopters are currently being used for patrolling the area around the airfield and for potential search and rescue missions. The Mi-24 is considered to be one of most deadly and versatile helicopters in the world.
“The Mi-24 accelerates up to 300 kilometers per hour and rises to an altitude of up to 4.5 kilometers,” Klimov told RIA Novosti.
Each Russian Mi-24 helicopter in Syria is also armed with four blocks of 20 unguided air-to ground rockets and a 30-millimeter cannon.
The helicopters are said to currently be patrolling the area of the Hmeymim air base where Russia’s air force is stationed, although their use could be expanded.
In addition to the Mi-24 helicopters, Russia has deployed Mi-8AMTSh “Terminator” transport and combat helicopters to Syria.

Source:: http://sputniknews.com

This is blow to Azerbaijan’s military leadership – Armenian expert on MI-24 crew return

November 22, 2014 By administrator

The recovery of the downed Armenian helicopter’s crew as a result of special military operations is a serious blow to Azerbaijan’s military leadership, David Sanasaryan, an expert in Azerbaijani studies, wrote in a post on Facebook, condemning the Azerbaijani aggression.

“This is a blow to Azerbaijan’s military leadership. Hitting a plane not waiting an attack with a self-guided missile from a close distance is an act requiring no special manliness or military courage,” he said, describing the attack as an act tantamount to a military humiliation.

“Calling the international community’s attention to the violation of ceasefire and the downing of the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army helicopter was important, but the past days’ developments proved that the Armenian army continues to remain the most effective and perhaps the only support in resolving the problems with Azerbaijanis. So it is important to emphasize after all that we deal with a raged society which denies the international humanitarian law and which for more than twenty years has been bred with the spirit of Armenophobia. Azerbaijan will use every occasion to carry out anti-Armenian operations, and it is only the Armenian armed forces that hinder the Azerbaijani-Turkish plans to physically eliminate the Armenian factor in the region,” reads Hakobyan’s post.

Azerbaijan in the fear of the replica of the Armenian Army following the incident of the Armenian helicopter shot

November 21, 2014 By administrator

According Artsakhpress site, Baku anxiously awaiting the reply of Armenians after the Armenian helicopter shot Nov. 12 that resulted in the deaths of three officers of the camera flying over the border area near Agna (Aghdam).

“If the enemy attack and undertakes any military operation, the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan replicate significantly, his shots will be operational and destructive which will cause many casualties and massive destruction,” said the General Staff of the Azerbaijani army in Baku. This release is in response to the assertion Sarkisian late last week after military maneuvers in large Karabakh, the Armenian president said at the time that the Armenian army will respond to the attack against the Azeri Armenian helicopter. Armenian Defense Minister had also said that the response of Armenia would be even stronger than the deliberate Azeri. The Minister of Defence of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh Movses Hakobyan also outbid by saying “we will take a destructive attack where they least expect it. This is why the services of our army study weaknesses and strengths of the enemy and we will strike where it will be more painful for the enemy. This does not mean that we will attack systematically weaknesses of the enemy, we will hit its strongest points of defense to resolve once and for all the problem. “

After the attack on the helicopter by Armenian Azeri, remember that President Serzh Sarkisian -défiant the Azerbaïdjan- moved from Yerevan to Stepanakert by helicopter and after the Armenian unit shot, Armenian forces as well as many helicopters continued military maneuvers in the sky Nagorno-Karabakh and near the line of contact. For now the Armenian Army seems to wait the “operative time” for its response to the aggression of Baku. Moreover, the Azeri forces seem to be placed on their reserves in anticipation of the Armenian attack imminent. Azerbaijan that has everything to lose armed conflict seems he decided to reduce its provocations and violations of the border cease-fire. According to many information relayed by Azeri media, Azerbaijan has launched a terrible provocation feared lightning return of the Armenian Army.

Krikor Amirzayan

Karabakh army not permitting Azerbaijan to approach helicopter crash site

November 21, 2014 By administrator

STEPANAKERT. – The ceasefire violations by adversary have increased dramatically in recent times along the entire length of the Line of Contact between the Karabakh-Azerbaijani opposing forces.

More intense firing of shots is recorded especially in the direction of the crash site of the Armenian helicopter which Azerbaijan shot down on November 12 on the eastern sector of the Line of Contact.

The Azerbaijani army, using different-caliber rifle weaponry, violated the ceasefire around 190 times on late Thursday night and early Friday morning in the aforesaid sector. In eight of these cases, the adversary also made use of grenades and several large-caliber weapons.

The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) Defense Army vanguard forces, however, have taken and are taking all necessary measures not to permit the adversary to approach the chopper’s crash site, the NKR MOD press service informed.

At present, the crash site and the entire frontline are under the constant supervision of the Armenian positions.

Karabakh Retaliate or not to retaliate?

November 20, 2014 By administrator

Editorial November 11-22

Edmond E. Azadian

Armenia should it retaliate against Azerbaijan or not? It is a Shakespearean dilemma at the border between Karabakh and Azerbaijan. Even if the answer to the question is a foregone conclusion, we know from the Armenian side of the border that sooner or later the Armenian forces will react to the provocation of Azerbaijan, who shot last week an Armenian military helicopter M1- 24 operating near the line to stop the fire, accompanied by another helicopter.

At the time of writing, recovery attempts have failed. The helicopter was shot inside the no man’s land and the bodies of three soldiers remained on board are inaccessible, the area remaining under intense fire from both sides. The Armenian side takes to prevent crime Azerbaijani forces, Armenians fear that the enemy lays a missile in the crash zone to try to prove that Armenian forces hostile intentions. Azerbaijanis take to keep the Armenian forces in distance and probably maintain tension and repel a possible solution to the conflict.

With little regard to the statement by President Aliyev Hilham consider airspace Karabakh as fly zone, President Serzh Sargsyan arrived in Stepanakert airport to board a military helicopter, accompanied by the Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanian. They were both dressed in military fatigues, given the war situation, and the president made a strong speech, evoking an appropriate response to the severity of the assault, a severe speech enough to deter further aggression of Azerbaijan .

International observers have studied the logic of the Karabakh conflict are of the opinion that the Armenian side will not be silent much longer.

Despite the rise of the rhetoric of war and violations of the ceasefire regime resulting fire, all parties seem convinced that the option of an open war is not yet payable of the day. President Sargsyan, who threatened reprisals in his strong speech, said that the threat of open war was not imminent.

The international response to the shot that killed the helicopter was predictable. Jan Psaki, the US State Department, members of the Minsk Group of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs have put together also warned against any further provocation, knowing full well that party was responsible for this new incident.

The fact that the Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan has praised who fired the missile proves that he is not an accident or the result of a miscalculation; it was a decision taken at the highest level of the Department of Defense.

Last June, the cease fire was raped many times and Armenian forces responded to provocations on three fronts, causing many Azeri losses. In August, Russian President Vladimir Putin invited the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, advocating moderation. Other meetings at the highest level followed. The US Secretary of State John Kerry and French President François Hollande called the presidents of both countries to meet and at the border, a drop in blood ensued.

Moreover, whenever a meeting was held with the participation of two presidents and hopes were high for a peaceful solution to the conflict, Azerbaijan immediately violated the ceasefire regime ruining the chances for peace. This time, it took some time before this scenario does not happen again, but there was a more aggressive way than before.

The opposition daily Haykakan Jamanak believes that Aliyev is not 100 percent sure of the conclusion of the war and that any miscalculation would not be the end of the Aliyev dynasty with the loss of enormous wealth stolen from the coffers of the state and the life of exiles that follows.

Many in Armenia wondered why Moscow weapon Azerbaijan as massively as the only enemy of the latter is Armenia, strategic ally of Russia.

Answers and speculation are numerous and varied; answer is that Russia definitely wants Baku joins the Eurasian Union to complete its hegemony over the Caucasus. Others believe it is in the interest of Russia to maintain a certain fever in the region, without open war, to pose as the savior for both parties.

Another frequently asked question is: why Aliyev he chose to shoot the helicopter and why at this time?

Again, the answers are many and varied. During a recent military ceremony, echoing the voice of his master, the Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan Zakir Hasanov criticized the “inaction” of the Minsk Group. He expressed exasperation and announced that the only alternative is the military option, with respect to “restore the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.”

This rhetoric seems to be climbing a response to dissatisfaction with a restive population vis-à-vis the repressive regime of Aliyev, exposed to severe criticism issued by Western governments, mainly. Therefore, to divert the discontent, it takes Aliyev a scapegoat, that is to say, the Karabakh conflict. While he collects his profit the wealth of the nation, he wants to give him a patriotic picture, and sometimes, in spite of common sense, his vanity led him to take adventurous postures.

Knowing full well the influence of Moscow on Armenia, Aliyev expressed his impatience to force the hand of Moscow to act and force Armenia to withdraw its forces from Karabakh.

While theories abound and speculation, a source in Armenia think that the recent provocation comes from the West, forcing Azerbaijan to undertake another bloody conflict while Moscow is busy on its border with Ukraine.

This possibility remains remote, even if Russia had not committed anywhere in the world. The answer is given in an interview by a prominent Russian military analyst Pavel Felgenhaur. Whether the defense pact covers Armenian-Russian Karabakh has always been a much debated question. The analyst said he believed Russia could intervene if Armenia was attacked by Turkey, a distant prospect at the moment. “But if the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, Russian pact with Armenia would not play. The most that can be Russia, is to require both parties to cease hostilities. “ This is the protection of our strategic ally, Russia.

As if the troubles in Georgia were not enough, snaps of the Armenian border with Azerbaijan is intensifying with incalculable consequences.

Concerning the response of Armenia, it is believed that in all environments is rejected. This solves the Shakespearean dilemma, but tell us when this response will be or what form it will take place.

Gilbert Béguian translation Armenews

Thursday, November 20, 2014,
Jean Eckian © armenews.com

Helicopter Was Downed with Russia-Made Weapons

November 18, 2014 By administrator

STEPANAKERT—Azerbaijan used Russian-made anti-aircraft weapons to down an Artsakh military helicopter last Wednesday, the commander of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Armed Forces, General Movses Hakobian told Azatutyun.am on Monday.

“Our observations and information released by Azerbaijan indicate that a ‘Strela’ anti-aircraft missile was used. These are Russian-made missiles,” said Hakobian adding that there is no agreement that says Russian cannot sells weapons to any nation. “There are no restrictions that it [Russia] has to be accountable to Armenia about to which country it chooses to sell weapons.”

“Of course it is sad. We are allies and strategic partners and I believe that Russia, in advancing its economic interests, must also take into account our interests. Something that is not being realized,” added Hakobian.

Artsakh’s top military commander also stressed that due to the intensive and continued shelling by the Azerbaijani forces in the area where the helicopter went down, Karabakh officials have not been able to inspect the wreckage. However, Hakobian stressed that the helicopter fell in an area between the Karabakh-Azerbaijan border often referred to as the Line of Contact.

Hakobian said that the Karabakh authorities have on numerous occasions said that the situation resembles war more than peace and that Azerbaijan continues to attack from its positions. He explained that entering the area where the helicopter was shot down is risky and dangerous, adding that Azerbaijan knows full well that “our intentions are to enter that very area, which is under their immediate control.”

Hakobian stressed that the army was still strategizing its next steps, but will not publicize them.

“No threat will go unanswered,” said Hakobian.

Media expert: Videos allegedly showing Karabakh helicopter downing were from Syrian war

November 15, 2014 By administrator

The videos allegedly showing the Nagorno-Karabakh helicopter downing, released by Azerbaijan several hours after the incident, were filmed during the Syrian war, media expert Samvel Martirosyan told reporters on Saturday.

According to him, after the incident, Azerbaijan started to disseminate video recordings to show that allegedly there have been military operations. Two videos were released, which actually were from the Syrian war, Mr Martirosyan noted.

The media expert praised the Armenian media for their coverage of the recent events.

Source: Panorama.am

Armenian Military Promises Retaliation for Helicopter Downing

November 15, 2014 By administrator

Armenian Mi-24 helicopters fire missiles during a military exercise.

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)—The armed forces of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh on Friday vowed to retaliate strongly against Azerbaijan for shooting down an Armenian helicopter gunship on “the line of contact” east of Karabakh.

“What happened was unfortunate for us and impudent of them. We will undoubtedly deliver a proportionate — and even a bit disproportionate — answer to their actions,” Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian told reporters in Stepanakert.

Ohanian’s first deputy, Davit Tonoyan, similarly spoke of “collateral damage” which he said the Azerbaijani military will suffer as a consequence of the “new form of ceasefire violation.” “By collateral damage I mean Armenian forces’ possible actions in response to the downing of the helicopter and, of course, the risk of disrupting the negotiation process and nullifying efforts to strengthen the ceasefire,” he said in written remarks released in Yerevan.

Neither Ohanian nor Tonoyan elaborated on the retaliatory actions planned by the Armenian side. General Movses Hakobian, the commander of the Karabakh Armenian army, would also not be drawn on them. “It’s up to the army to decide what actions we will take,” Hakobian said.

Ohanian and Hakobian answered journalists’ questions after watching, together with President Serzh Sarkisian, Armenian military exercises held in and around Karabakh. Both military leaders reiterated strong Armenian denials of Baku’s claims that the Mi-24 combat helicopter flew over Azerbaijani army positions and attempted to attack them before being shot down on Wednesday.

The helicopter fell to the no man’s land separating Azerbaijani and Karabakh Armenian forces in the Aghdam district just east of Karabakh. Hakobian said his troops have still not been able to approach the wreckage of the helicopters and recover the bodies of its three crew members presumed dead because of heavy Azerbaijani gunfire.

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said on Friday that its forces are not firing at the crash site.

The authorities in Stepanakert have asked the International Committee of the Red Cross (IRCR) to help arrange the repatriation of the three pilots: Major Sergey Sahakian, Senior Lieutenant Sargis Nazarian and Lieutenant Azat Sahakian. An ICRC spokeswoman in Yerevan, Zara Amatuni, told RFE/RL’s Armenian service that the Red Cross has already asked the Azerbaijani authorities to allow its representatives to inspect the wreckage.

Russia, US React to Helicopter Downing

November 13, 2014 By administrator

MOSCOW, WASHINGTON—Russia, together with other co-chairing countries of the mediating OSCE Minsk Group, will continue targeted efforts in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s official spokesman said Thursday, a day after Azerbaijani forces shot down an unarmed Artsakh military helicopter, killing three people.“Russia calls on Armenia and Azerbaijan to refrain from moves which could lead to the escalation of tensions,” the Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said on Thursday, TASS reports.

“We are very concerned about the incident which has led to the deaths of people. We offer our deepest condolences to the families of the victims,” Lukashevich said, adding that Russia’s stance was reflected in the statement of the OSCE Minsk Group on November 12.

The spokesman said that Russia reminds the leadership of Azerbaijan and Armenia of their “responsibility towards complying with their commitments on searching for a peaceful resolution of the conflict which they took at the meeting in Sochi, Newport and Paris.”

The United States and the European Union similarly echoed international mediators’ concerns of an escalation of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resulting from Wednesday’s incident.

The EU’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, also called for an inquiry into the incident which could lead to another upsurge in fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces, RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am) reports.

“It is essential that all sides show restraint and avoid any actions or statements which could escalate the situation. Furthermore, we call for an investigation into this incident,” read a statement issued by Mogherini’s office late on Wednesday.

“Both sides have to strictly respect the ceasefire, to refrain from the use of force or any threat thereof, and to resume efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” added the statement.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki similarly said that the incident is “yet another reminder” of the need to reduce tensions in the conflict zone. There can be “no military solution to the conflict,” Psaki told reporters in Washington.

“We urge all sides to respect the ceasefire and not to take any actions to escalate the situation,” Kate Byrnes, the acting head of the U.S. mission to the OSCE, said on Thursday.

Byrnes spoke at a meeting of the OSCE’s governing Permanent Council in Vienna, which discussed the Karabakh conflict and the downing of the Armenian helicopter in particular. The U.S., Russian and French diplomats co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group briefed the council on their ongoing efforts to revive the Karabakh peace process.

“A wider conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh is in no one’s interest,” James Warlick, the U.S. co-chair tweeted ahead of the Vienna meeting.

NATO also warned against an escalation in violence. The incident “is absolutely not conducive to the peaceful resolution of this conflict,” NATO’s Liason Officer in the South Caucasus William Lahue told reporters on the sidelines of a workshop for reporters organized within the framework of NATO Week in Armenia.

“Military actions serve to inhibit the ability of the parties to resolve such a conflict,” he said, adding that “NATO would like to see the parties engaged in peaceful negotiations and discussions to resolve this conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group format.”

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) also urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to honor their 20-year-old truce on Thursday, Reuters reports.
The OSCE, which has led talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia since the war, said it should not lead to new violence.

“The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Swiss Foreign Minister, Didier Burkhalter … appeals to the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia to do their utmost to prevent such incidents and to honor the ceasefire regime,” the OSCE said in a statement.

Footage from the Azeri side showed the helicopter explode in the air over the neutral zone between the two sides and officials said the three crew members were killed.

Armenia promised “painful” consequences for Azerbaijan after it downed the helicopter, which had been carrying out training exercises.

The Azeri defense ministry said an army officer had been honored for shooting down the aircraft.