A view shows the aftermath of recent shelling in Stepanakert, Azerbaijan. File photo/Reuters

Gulf Today Report

The Nagorno-Karabakh region defence ministry said on Monday it had recorded another 44 casualties among its military, pushing its military death toll to 1,221 since fighting with Azeri forces erupted on September 27.

On Sunday, Azerbaijan has claimed that it has recaptured the symbolic town of Shusha, a claim denied by Armenian officials.

READ MORE

Armenian president to discuss Nagorno-Karabakh with EU NATO

Fighting continues in Nagorno-Karabakh: Azeri defence ministry

Azerbaijan’s president, Ilham Aliyev, in a televised address said that, “[This day] will become a great day in the history of Azerbaijan.”

President Aliyev’s announcement was greeted with celebrations on the streets of Baku as Azerbaijanis gathered to wave flags and sings.

More than 5,000 people have died since Azerbaijan launched an offensive in late September.

Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountain enclave, internationally recognised as Azerbaijani territory but under the de facto control of Armenians since a truce between the two former Soviet neighbours in 1994.

More than 5,000 people have died since Azerbaijan launched an offensive in late September. Fighting has surged to its worst level since the 1990s, when about 30,000 people were killed.

Sensitive to the threat of wider confrontation, Russia and Turkey are for now limiting involvement in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to providing humanitarian assistance and some military aid.

Ankara sees its strong backing for Azerbaijan over the fighting with ethnic Armenians in the mountain enclave as part of efforts to boost Turkey's international clout. Moscow is determined to defend its own interests in the South Caucasus.