YEREVAN. – Hraparak daily of Armenia writes: In the settlement of Ivanyan (Khojaly), which is located about 7 kilometers from Stepanakert, where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is stationed in Artsakh [(Nagorno-Karabakh)] , yesterday the command staff met with the representatives of the Azerbaijani side, who, as the Azerbaijani media claim, are "specialists who have been sent [there] for the illegal exploitation of natural resources, and for the investigation and monitoring of the situation related to its environmental consequences."

Azerbaijan brought this topic to the agenda on December 3—by closing the Lachin Corridor, which [re]opened a few hours later. Azerbaijan's target is the Kashen mining and processing plant, which belongs to the Vallex Group of companies. Back in 2021, [Azerbaijani president Ilham] Aliyev had said that Azerbaijan would demand compensation from the companies that operated mines in the territory of Artsakh, would apply to the court.

Now Baku has moved to concrete actions, which is both an economic and political challenge for Artsakh. It can be seen from the photos that the secretary of Artsakh Security Council [(SC)], Vitaly Balasanyan, was [also] present at the meeting. However, until late evening yesterday, the AR [(Artsakh Republic)] SC had not made any statement about that meeting.