Elchin Amirbayov: Unlike the opposite side, we do not target civilians

During the hostilities, which began on September 27 with the attack of the Armenian army on the positions of the Azerbaijani armed forces, the opposite side from the first day chose the civilian population and civilian infrastructure of Azerbaijan as the main target, Assistant to the First Vice President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Elchin Amirbayov said in a live broadcast on BBC World's "News" program.

According to Report, commenting on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's claims that the Armenian population in Karabakh will be subjected to genocide if the Azerbaijani side succeeds in this military operation, the aide said he did not even want to comment on such absurd statements. Instead, Amirbayov reminded everyone who wants to resolve this situation peacefully. First of all, these events are an unacceptable status quo, which arose after the occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia for nearly 30 years and ethnic cleansing.

Answering the reporter's question about the alleged shelling of Khankendi by the Azerbaijani Army and the number of civilian losses, Amirbayov emphasized that unlike Armenia, Azerbaijan never targeted civilians, but reluctantly caused casualties among the population due to the intentional placement of firing points in the city by the opposite side.

Simultaneously, Amirbayov advised the journalist to broadcast videos showing the Armenian army firing rockets at the cities of Ganja and Mingachevir, which are far from the frontline. Thus, by firing cruise missiles, Smerch, and Polonaise types of rocket launchers from Armenia's territory, the other side aims to involve third countries in the conflict by inciting Azerbaijan to the adequate response.

Touching upon the possibility of Russia's involvement in the conflict, Amirbayov noted that the country had played an important mediating role as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, and praised their neutral position in recent events.