The Defense Army of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) is ready to discuss the proposal of the Azerbaijani side on a ceasefire in the Karabakh conflict zone while restoring the initial positions. This was reported on Sunday, April 3, by Interfax, citing a statement by the NKR Defense Ministry.

"The statement by the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry about a unilateral cessation of hostilities in the Karabakh conflict zone is disinformation," the military department of the unrecognized republic said in a statement released on Sunday. "The NKR Defense Army is ready to meet halfway and discuss the proposal for a ceasefire in the context of restoring previous positions," the document emphasizes.

The NKR Defense Ministry also reports that on the night of April 2, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces (AF) launched large-scale offensive actions, using almost all types of weapons. After the announcement of a unilateral suspension of military actions, the Azerbaijani army launched rocket fire at populated areas, in particular the city of Martakert, from Grad launchers and 152 mm artillery units.

“These facts, as well as the use of the words ‘counter-offensive actions’ and ‘strengthening of liberated territories’ in the statement by the Azerbaijani side, testify to the false nature of this document,” the military department notes, emphasizing that the real goal of Baku’s statement on the suspension of hostilities is “an imitation of a ceasefire with obvious preconditions.”

Earlier on Sunday, April 3, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry issued a statement saying that the country's armed forces were unilaterally ceasing hostilities. "Based on the calls of international organizations, as well as the peace policy pursued by the government of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces... are unilaterally suspending retaliatory military operations and will strengthen the territories liberated the day before," the official document emphasized.

The situation in the Karabakh conflict zone escalated on the night of Saturday, April 2. Large-scale military actions began here between Azerbaijan on one side and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, as well as Armenia on the other. The parties to the conflict accuse each other of violating the ceasefire, which has lasted since 1994.

Karabakh Accuses Azerbaijan of Continuing Hostilities