Armenia & Azerbaijan point finger at each other over use of Syrian militants in Nagorno-Karabakh, neither provides any evidence

First, Yerevan alleged Baku was being supported by foreign allies in the largely ethnic Armenian enclave that has seen heavy fighting along its borders since early on Sunday. “Based on our information, about 4,000 militants have been transported by Turkey from Syria to Azerbaijan recently,” Armenia’s ambassador to Russia, Vardan Toganyan, told the media.

Citing only unspecified “military intelligence [reports]” as evidence, the diplomat alleged the foot soldiers were trained in the Turkish-controlled northern part of Syria and transported to the South Caucasus by chartered flight. “They are already participating [in hostilities] on the other side,” Toganyan insisted.

Senior defense officials echoed the allegations back in Yerevan. “There is updated information on mercenaries, on Turkish interference and on the use of Turkish armaments,” Artsrun Ovannisyan, spokesman for the Defense Ministry, said.

Baku, which has enjoyed warm relations with Ankara for decades, swiftly rebuked the claim. “Rumors of militants from Syria allegedly being redeployed to Azerbaijan is another provocation by the Armenian side and complete nonsense,” Khikmet Gadzhiev, an aide to President Ilkham Aliyev, told Reuters.

First, Yerevan alleged Baku was being supported by foreign allies in the largely ethnic Armenian enclave that has seen heavy fighting along its borders since early on Sunday. “Based on our information, about 4,000 militants have been transported by Turkey from Syria to Azerbaijan recently,” Armenia’s ambassador to Russia, Vardan Toganyan, told the media.

Citing only unspecified “military intelligence [reports]” as evidence, the diplomat alleged the foot soldiers were trained in the Turkish-controlled northern part of Syria and transported to the South Caucasus by chartered flight. “They are already participating [in hostilities] on the other side,” Toganyan insisted.

Senior defense officials echoed the allegations back in Yerevan. “There is updated information on mercenaries, on Turkish interference and on the use of Turkish armaments,” Artsrun Ovannisyan, spokesman for the Defense Ministry, said.

Baku, which has enjoyed warm relations with Ankara for decades, swiftly rebuked the claim. “Rumors of militants from Syria allegedly being redeployed to Azerbaijan is another provocation by the Armenian side and complete nonsense,” Khikmet Gadzhiev, an aide to President Ilkham Aliyev, told Reuters.