Russian authorities retroactively approve sending peacekeepers to Karabakh

Today, a week after Russian peacekeepers had been sent to Nagorno-Karabakh, members of the Russian Federation Council have adopted a resolution on their consent to the above sending.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the Russian peacekeepers took control over the Lachin corridor connecting Karabakh with the territory of Armenia, entered Stepanakert and the Karvachar District, and also started escorting buses with residents of Nagorno-Karabakh returning from Armenia.

The peacekeeping forces had been sent to Nagorno-Karabakh without prior consent from the Federation Council, since urgent intervention in the situation in the conflict zone was required, declared Andrei Klishas, the chairman of the Russian Federation Council.

"The situation developed according to a tragic scenario. Russian citizens deceased, a Russian helicopter was shot down, and in accordance with the law, the President of Russia had every right to use the armed forces promptly," Andrei Klishas explained.

The chairman of the Russian Federation Council has also added that the today's consent of the Russian Federation Council is required by the president due to the fact that the Russian peacekeeping troops may stay in Nagorno-Karabakh for a long time, the RIA "Novosti" reports.

For Turkey, which supported Azerbaijan during the escalation of the Karabakh conflict, sending its peacekeeping forces to Nagorno-Karabakh is becoming a matter of prestige, analysts suggest. The entry of the Turkish troops may become a serious threat to the mission, believes Andrei Areshev, an expert on Southern Caucasus.