STEPANAKERT, NKR (A.W.)—Azerbaijani Armed Forces shot down an Artsakh Air Force Mi-24 helicopter on a training flight on Nov. 12. The helicopter was engaged in military training exercises near the contact line. The incident took place at 1:45 p.m. local time, the press service of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic (NKR) Defense Ministry reported.
“Today, at 13:45, an Mi-24 helicopter was shot down in the eastern airspace [of NKR], near the Karabagh-Azerbaijani border, by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces—a ceasefire violation. The area where the helicopter was shot is very close to the Line of Contact. The enemy continues to fire intensively, with weapons of various caliber, at the area where the incident took place,” the NKR Defense Ministry said in a statement.
According to a source in Artsakh, three members of the Artsakh Air Force were killed in the attack.
The training flight was part of joint Armenia-Artsakh military drills in the area. The “Unity 2014” exercises involved over 30,000 troops, 3,000 armored vehicles, artillery, and air defense units, according to the NKR Defense Ministry website.
Meanwhile, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has claimed that the attack was a defense maneuver. “On November 12 at about 1:45 pm, the Mi-24 helicopter of the Armenian Armed Forces flying 1700 meters north-east of Kangarli village of Aghdam region attacked the Azerbaijani positions. The enemy helicopter was shot down with return fire,” reported the Azeri APA news agency, which had received a statement from the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.
Again, as usual, this was clearly the fault of Armenians.
When Armenians do not respect Humanitarian Norms, peace-loving Turkbaijanis have no choice but to Escalate.
Armenians keep provoking peace-loving Turks, so they are forced, forced I tell you, to retaliate.
What right do Armenians have flying military helicopters over occupied Turkish lands anyway ?
Besides, Artsakh’s Armenians have no need for a military: peace-loving Turkbaijanis would never, never ever, attack warmongering Armenians, unless of course when they make peace-loving Turks angry. So the solution to all this is for Armenians to lay down their arms and submit to the benevolent rule of peace-loving Uyguroglu Turks.
Gyavurs can’t govern themselves anyway without the benevolent supervision of the highly civilized nomads from that cradle of civilization – Uyguristan.
When did turks became peace loving ,who ever wrote this forgat that they were trowing Older Armenians from thier balconys into streets, or killing people when they are sleep
Because Azebaijan neither wants nor is capable of peace. May God punish them for every one of their crimes.
The peace-loving Turkbaijani invadonomads, who were of course provoked by Armenians, kept firing at the Mi-24 after it was downed, to prevent Armenian rescuers from approaching the wreck and rendering medical aid to any survivors.
This is nothing new of course. In 2013, Armenians did not respect Humanitarian Norms, again, so peace-loving Turks had no choice but to Escalate.
September 25, 2013:
A resident of the Armenian village of Aygedzor on border with Azerbaijan died after stepping on a mine*.
After the 26 year-old Edward Dallakyan’s leg was torn off by the mine blast, the doctor who tried to help him was shelled by Azeris.
“Azeris opened fire, the shelling was ongoing for 30-40 minutes, preventing the doctor from approaching Edward. In about an hour, we managed to come close to the injured, yet the man bled to death on the way to a hospital. He was only 26 and was expecting his first child,” razm.info quoted the Village administration head Sasun Safaryan as saying.
If only the warlike Armenian villager had not provoked peace-loving Turks by accidentally stepping on a mine…..he would be alive to day.
Lesson for Armenians: do not anger peace-loving Turks, or else….
—–
* [Humanism Azeri style: doctor shelled trying to aid man blown up by mine]
http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/170446/
[Fatal incident on Armenia-Azerbaijan border]
http://news.am/eng/news/172841.html
A Mi-24 helicopter is not a passenger aircraft. It is a combat helicopter which can carry a considerable number of soldiers. So no, that aircaft which was shot down, is not a “civilian passenger aircraft”. So any military aircraft which enters a country’s airpace illegaly, in this case internationally recognised Azerbaijani airspace, is a legitimate target. And if that military aircaft is unresponsive to warnings and doesn’t leave foreign airspace, then it will be deemed as a threat and will be shot down.
Steve,
I don’t see any mention of the helicopter being “civilian passenger aircraft” in this article nor by the commentators. Where are you seeing this?
Also, there is a ceasefire and the military drills in Artsakh were not firing on Azeri positions. Azeris broke the ceasefire by downing the helicopter.
There was no justification for this and Azerbaijan is risking an escalation here.
Turkoglu Steve:
Where in the article does it say Mi-24 is a passenger aircraft ?
Article clearly states: “Artsakh Air Force Mi-24 helicopter on a training flight”.
As to the alleged internationally recognized alleged Azerbaijani airspace: does the same logic apply when your Turk buddies regularly fly military aircraft in and out of the Internationally recognized airspace of the Republic of Cyprus ?
The 40% occupied by nomad Turks from Uyguristan ?
Or everything Turks occupy is ‘Turkish lands’ and ‘Turkish airspace’.
About that alleged Azerbaijani airspace: in May 1994 the Government of Azerbaijan voluntarily and at _thei_ request signed a legal Ceasefire Agreement with the military authorities of NKR.
The ceasefire agreement was co-signed by RoA.
Azerbaijan begged Moscow to convince NKR to stand down and agree to a ceasefire.
Why ? Because in the beginning of 1994, the Azeri military was completely destroyed and incapable of mounting any kind of organized defense.
Armenian warriors had KIA about 30,000 enemy troops (some sources put the number at 37,000).
1000s more enemy troops were WIA and out of action permanently .
(Azeri commentators themselves admit that if Armenians had wanted, they could have driven their tanks all the way to downtown Baku without encountering much resistance).
NKR military, on the other hand, was by now well rested and with its strength largely intact. (our side lost about 5,000-6,000 KIA).
Re-quipped plus completely fresh tank columns were awaiting orders from civilian leadership to keep pushing deeper and liberating more historic Armenian lands under occupation of the criminal, terrorist fake ‘state’ of Azerbaijan.
The ‘Thank You’ Armenians have been getting from the invadonomad savages for not throwing them back all the way to Kur river is constant violations of the Ceasefire Agreement and needless deaths on both sides.
Rest assured Turkoglu: neither NKR nor RoA Govs will let this go unanswered. All in good time though: at the time and place of their choosing.
who said it was a passenger aircraft? it even mentions, “The training flight was part of joint Armenia-Artsakh military drills in the area”.
If only the Armenian military forces had driven their tanks all the way to downtown Baku like they should’ve done back in 1994 (they could’ve achieved this within two more months), then as a result, there would be one less Turk terrorist state to deal with, as opposed to two. Furthermore, if this had taken place, the two republics of Armenia and Artsakh would not be dealing today with frequent terrorist raids and daily sniper gunfire launched by those Azerbaijani terrorists on the other side of the border; nor would they have to worry about one of their helicopters being shot down in a military training exercise within the airspace of Artsakh. This should be a reminder to the Armenian people that they should never have any kind of mercy for the two terrorist Turk nations of Turkey and Azerbaijan, whose biggest wish is to destroy the Armenian people.
In regards to the Azeri’s shooting down the Armenian-Artsakh training flight near Aghdam Region, we hope this issue will not be put aside by the Armeian-Artsakh Governments & letting the Armenians in the diaspora to immediately contact our Senators & Congressman of the seriousness of this unnecasary onslaught by the Azeri’s. Month after month our soldiers & villagers in Artsakh are being killed with no action being taken by the United Nations or the American Government to condemn the atrocities of the Azerbaijan Government.
Stephan what’s our thug thief Armenian leader doing other then hot air of “grave consequences”. Didn’t the Armenian genocide teach us nothing? That our freedoms and rights will com from US. Not any politican.. And you can lump the self serving oligarch leaders that NEED TO GO.
**** If barbaric Azeri’s think they can get a way with this one? they should lose sleep over the great Armenian Dashnack revenge for this murder of our brave martyrs defending our ancient homeland.
Avery,
Please let me get the violin to accompany your repetition of the “peace loving nomad Turks” line! Poor Turks,.. they only beheaded, opened pregnant womens’ bellies, crucified priests, drowned babies, drew out eyes and nails… because these bad civilians were provoking them!! The poor peace loving Turks. And the poor peace loving Azeris, threw Armenians out of balconies and burned them alive in Baku, because again just by existing these Armenians provoke them! And how dare these Armenians not cooperate in getting killed, and ran to Nagorno Garabakh, an Armenian land given to the Azeris by conquering and dividing Stalin, .. how dare they, not cooperate in getting killed and defended themselves and fought for self determination on their ancestral lands!!! I know, I know, us Gyavour, infidels! when are we going to learn that we were born to be massacred by the superior Turkish race… Poor Avery… we feel your pain!
Կարճ ասած
Ամոթ է Ամոթ
Այս մեր ապականիչ Ղեկավարները ոչ ժամանակ են վատնում մեր անցյայը վերանայելու եւ ոչ էլ իրավասու են Անդրանիկի, Սերոբ Աղբյուրի,Գեւորգ Չաուշի, Արաբոյի, Դրոյի, Նժդեհի, նելսոն Ստեփանեանի եւ մյուս հերոսների ժարանգորդը հաշվել :
With 30,000 troops and 3,000 armored vehicles nearby why the hell didn’t the ROA and NKR, already engaged in exercises, give the Azeri’s a quick and brutal lesson they would never forget?
Talking – talking – talking ! Axeris just understand facts. Facts as they are written in their Kuran : Ain bil ain, sin bil sin. So shoot the next two Axeri helicopters !
In light of last summer’s invasion, this is yet the continuation of the terror campaign Azerbaijan has chosen instead of the pursuit of peace. Are they so dumb that they think Armenia has no options of its own? I don’t know what they hope to achieve with this blatant violation of the cease-fire treaty, but there does need to be some serious consequences of their actions, and it does not even need to be advertised by Armenia.
One thing I’m wondering about is, what weapon they used and was supplied by which nation. Any nation justifying the sale of weapons to a terrorist entity like Azerbaijan is in my opinion complicit in this and they naturally use the term “defensive weapon” to justify their act of supplying weapons to terrorists. Here is proof that such a weapon was used “offensively” to commit an act of terror against another nation’s military.
What would any nation out there do if its neighbor shot down its helicopter with troops in it who were just conducting an exercise? Is that how a cease-fire treaty is kept? These delusional Azeris are so full of themselves, they think they are a “powerful nation which can impose a no-fly zone”. Eventually they will be done in by their own delusions of grandeur.
*** Hagop., well said.
{“One thing I’m wondering about is, what weapon they used and was supplied by which nation. “}
They used a shoulder fired portable anti-aircraft missile.
Not sure though from which nation.
Most likely Russian made, although Azerbaijan has purchased anti-aircraft systems from Israel as well.
If and when NKR military can access the wreck, they may be able to determine from any fragments of the missile they can find.
Right now though Azeris are constantly firing at the wreck to prevent Armenians from approaching the helicopter and recovering the bodies of our men.
Video of the shootdown:
http://www.panorama.am/en/all-videos/2778/
It is clear the helicopters were far away from Azeri positions and that Azeris had been waiting in ambush, with video recorder ready.
It is clear the helicopters were flying parallel to the LOC and not attacking anything or anyone.
Stupid invadonomads, in their hysterical joy of killing hated Armenian gyavurs, provided the evidence to refute their own propaganda they have been spreading about the NKR Mi-24s attacking their positions.
The strange sounds are of the missile getting a lock on the target, before it is launched.
It curved around and zeroed it on the hot exhaust behind the copter.
The missile must be pretty new design, because it acquired and locked on the Mi-24 which was flying pretty low: because of ground interference, it is very hard for a missile system to do that.
In combat, helicopters normally carry flares to thwart heat seeking missiles.
But these were on navigation/training, so got blindsided.
Sad, sad, sad.
RIP compatriots.
Nothing will stop the fearless, heroic Artsakhtsi, though.
Pres Sargsyan today landed in the new Stepanakert airport.
http://www.panorama.am/en/all-videos/2782/
One Armenian Nation, under God, Indivisible.
Avery,
What a disturbing video. You are right, they actually proved themselves to be the liars, it was very obvious those choppers were not anywhere near attacking. In addition to being far and unarmed, if those choppers posed any danger they would not be cheering as if they are at some sporting event. Instead they would be running for their lives. This video proves without a doubt that it was a premeditated terrorist attack.
If my memory serves correctly, when Russia sold its last batch of weapons, didn’t they stress the weapons cannot be used to resolve the Artsakh conflict?
Regardless, this incident totally changes everything. As Armenian officials have stated this is an unprecedented act for the 20 years since the cease-fire, in effect it was crossing the line and takes the conflict to a new level. I’m confident Armenia will do the right thing.
Baku has been trying hard to draw Armenia into a serious confrontation on the border since last summer. Bakus’ purpose is to cause a situation in the region which would derail Yerevan’s upcoming membership in the Eurasian Union. So, this provocation by Baku has geopolitical undertones. Yes, Armenia has to respond in some manner, but the response has to be measured/asymmetrical. We can’t start a war simply because that is what Turks want. Going forward, we need to better protect our forces and hit back at a time of our choosing. Once Armenia becomes a full member in the Eurasian Union these provocations will gradually come to a halt.
PS: Russians are a great help for Armenia in the west, the Turkish-Armenian border. We don’t need direct Russian help in Artsakh. Azerbaijan is something Armenia can easily handle.
This is typical behavior from Azerbaijani cowards. They know they have a lot to lose if they make their stand crystal clear and even declare war and face us in the battlefield like real men. What do they do instead? Resort to their Turkic instinct by hiding behind the bushes and take shots at unarmed and unsuspecting targets and defenseless civilians to try cause havoc and look “heroic” while doing such cowardly acts. I have never heard of any country’s leader make hundreds of threats year after year against another country but never be able to put his money where his mouth is.
I have said it before and I will say it again, the Turks and pseudo-Turkish Azerbaijanis are the most coward people on the planet. They are “brave” in numbers and in opportunistic con games but never at heart. The racist leader of this artificial state Aliyev is a prime example of Turkic cowardice. When he had the opportunity to show his “fake” patriotism back in the early 90s he was out of the country spending his father’s money in Moscow while a generation of coward Azerbaijanis he never misses the opportunity to lie and cheat were getting killed and returning home in body bags.
The worst thing the Armenian leaders can do in response to this Azerbaijani cowardly act is to remain passive and I think they should have reacted instantly at the time of the attack, since they were in combat-ready mode already, by firing several missiles and taking out the entire Azerbaijani attack outpost. But now I think they should take their time and not act hastily. They should keep their composure, while the spineless mediators go around giving their empty lip service without condemning the attacker, and plot a massive and decisive attack in many folds with tens, if not hundreds, of Azerbaijani casualties. Folks, this is the only language these Turkic nomads understand, it is in their genes. They will use any opportunity and any means to inflict harm on us and we must quit appeasing the incompetent and dysfunctional mediators by our inaction and take it to the enemy with all our might and fire power. Put the fear of God in them like you did twenty years ago.
The enemy must be taught, in no uncertain terms, that there will always be severe consequences for unprovoked and deliberate attacks. They should learn we take every single Armenian casualty extremely seriously and that their deaths will be retaliated many times over. These animals must not be treated as humans and must be hit hard and with utmost ferocity should they resort to similar provocations in the future. They must be given a bitter taste of the 90s and be reminded time and time again that they may have more toys to play with today but at heart they are no different from any of those 37,000 Azerbaijani cowards our patriotic heroes sent to hell.
Ararat,
I agree with you that the retaliation should have been done then and there and taken out the whole place of those cheering rats. But who knows what complex reasons there are for Armenia and Artsakh being so patient until now. For the worldwide Armenian public though, it lowers our morale for sure. But I am confident and hopeful at the same time that Azerbaijan will pay disproportionately for this terrorist act at some point.
The rogue Azeri state is using Armenian blood to commit psychological warfare against its own people, by putting fear in them by showing what it is capable of doing in order to keep its own population from revolting against its oppressively abusive gov’t. This is not a long term solution to the Azeri gov’t staying in power.
In the meantime, it wants to keep Armenians in a constant state of anxiety & instability so that we are unable to tend to our progress.
Judging from the tactics the Azeri gov’t is using against Armenians & on its own population, it appears to be a matter of time before this godless state is finally put to rest.
The Armenian soldiers that were murdered by the Azeri’s in this helicopter crash did not die in vain. It is each and every Azeri living on this earth who is breathing in vain, along with the bloodthirsty Israelis who are responsible for weapons sales to Azeris.
They obviously are entirely godless. They have absolute confidence that justice will not prevail.
If Armenians weren’t such an amazing people, we would never have been the target of countless attempts at being wiped off the face of this earth?
Now, it is our responsibility to carry those deceased soldiers in our hearts and move forward stronger than ever!!