Armenia accuses Turkey of providing direct military support to Azerbaijan

Duvar English

Armenia accused Turkey on Sept. 28 of providing direct military support for Azerbaijan in a flare-up of fighting between the two former Soviet republics over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Turkey had a "direct presence on the ground." It said Turkish military experts "are fighting side by side" with Azerbaijan, which it said was also using Turkish weapons including drones and warplanes.

Azerbaijan denied the allegations. Turkey is a close ally of Azerbaijan.

Earlier, Armenia's ambassador to Russia said that Turkey had sent around 4,000 fighters from northern Syria to Azerbaijan.

The ambassador said the fighters were taking part in fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Also on Sept. 28, Turkey said Armenia must stop its occupation of Azerbaijan's lands and send back the "mercenaries and terrorists" it brought from abroad for stability in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

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"Armenia must immediately halt its attacks, send back the mercenaries and terrorists it brought from abroad and withdraw from the Azerbaijan lands," said Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, adding a ceasefire and peace are needed.

Turkey has said it will support Azerbaijan in the clashes, in which fierce fire was exchanged for a second day amid reports of at least 21 killed and hundreds wounded.

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