Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

[Icy]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan: A show to make a cat laugh



The Azeri authorities have once again made everyone laugh by their clumsy attempt to lay claims to Nagorno-Karabakh. The December 23 local elections “presented an opportunity.”

The election campaign has been marked by too many manifestations of the “Aliyev-style democracy.” Specifically, most of the candidates were nominated by the Yeni Azerbaijan (New Azerbaijan) Party. The Opposition, which attempted to participate in the elections, was not provided with airtime on the Public Television of Azerbaijan, as, to meet the requirement, it had to nominate candidates for at least 50% of the municipalities. In present-day Azerbaijan, with all the media outlets controlled by the presidential administration, and many opposition journalists jailed, none of the political forces except for the ruling party is able to make a serious bid for participating in the elections.

At the same time, Azerbaijan, as usual, has no problems with voter turnout. Whole staffs were brought to the polling stations, and the central TV channels reported on “the people voting in an organized way.”

The greatest joy, however, was an election show in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR). Headquartered in Baku, the Central Electoral Commission of Azerbaijan even “opened” two election districts in the NKR. Thus, while incessantly speaking of the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan claims elections are held in the “occupied” territories.

The “voting” in the two “election districts” in the NKR will help the ruling party to get the necessary number of votes. The former Azerbaijani residents of the Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous region were to take part in the voting, but they left the region as a result of the conflict and settled down in Azerbaijan. They have actually voted, but the number of voters has been exaggerated: Azerbaijan still hopes for the return of refugees to Nagorno-Karabakh and is constantly exaggerating their number. So the Central Electoral Commission reported a high voter turnout in the “two districts” in the NKR, which are the product of the Azeri leaders’ “great imagination.”

Well, the neighboring state decided to amuse everyone a little once again. The “Aliyev-style democracy” is developing. Even the Azeri President and the First Lady were fingerprinted at the polling station – Azerbaijan is doing its best to show the world the “exemplary” elections, with most of the opposition forces barred from participating in them. But we advise Azerbaijan not to draw other states, particularly the NKR, into this “democratic development” process so as not to make cats laugh.

Source:http://news.am/en/news/11155.html

[Eddo211]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

They come up with this stuff on daily bases it seems, hard to counter. The good part is that very few even pay attention and already know the reliability of the source, but still it must be countered aggressively.




Armenian original sniper rifle..................still in use to some degree I think, regardless of expertise required to handle it and its limitations, one being range:

[ArmeniaR]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

Armenian made weapons during war

[ArmeniaR]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

[ArmeniaR]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

[Karabed]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani soldier killed by Armenians
Azerbaijani army soldier has been killed.

Ramin Niftaliyev, aged 18, has been killed in the result of ceasefire by Armenians at N military unit of Fizuli. Sniper's gun hit the soldier in the heart. Niftaliyev was recruited by the military commissariat of the Gusary region in January 2009.

His body was brought to Khil village of Gusary. The executive powers and the military commissariat of the region confirmed the fact of Niftaliyev's death.

ANS PRESS

http://www.news.az/articles/5778

[ninetoyadome]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

are they sure this time it was an azeri killed by an Armenian? last time they said it was an Armenian killed by an azeri but then the victim turned into an azeri killed by an Armenian.

[Karabed]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

Do you mean this one:

Azerbaijani Defense Ministry: Serviceman who fired at woman on troops' contact line has been detained - UPDATE

10:07

Resident of Aghdam region Sadagat Pasha Mammadova entered the contact line in the morning on Dec. 20 under the unknown circumstances, spokesman for the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry, Lieutenant-Colonel Eldar Sabiroglu said.

Sabiroglu said Azerbaijani servicemen fired in that direction and the woman died on the spot.

The spokesman said the serviceman, who had fired at the woman, was detained. The fact was being investigated.

Earlier the woman was reported to be shot by Armenian troops.

------------

Dec. 21
16:04
The woman, who was killed on the contact line of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops on Dec. 20, was Azerbaijani.
Resident of Agdam region Mammadova Sadagat Pasha left her house two days ago and did not come back.
Mammadova was born in Khindiristan village and married to the resident of Alibayli village. Mammadova recently divorced and returned to her daughter's house of in Khindiristan.
The village residents say Mammadova suffered from mental illness after she divorced.
The woman is said to be missing for two days.
It is being investigated how she crossed the contact line.
/APA/
URL: http://www.today.az/news/politics/58389.html

And it turned out that the victim was azeri and the shooter was azeri.

Defense Ministry: The serviceman, who fired at the woman on the contact line of troops, has been detained
Baku – APA. Resident of Aghdam region Sadagat Pasha Mammadova entered the defense line in the morning on December 20 under the undetermined circumstances, spokesman for Defense Ministry, Lieutenant-Colonel Eldar Sabiroglu told APA.

Sabiroglu said our servicemen fired in that direction and the woman died on the spot.

The spokesman said the serviceman, who had fired at the woman, was detained, the fact was being investigated.
“Additional information will be given about the results,” he said.

APA’s Karabakh bureau reports that resident of Aghdam region Mammadova Sadagat Pasha left her house two days ago and did not come back.

Mammadova was born in Khindiristan village and married to the resident of Alibayli village. Mammadova has been recently divorces and returned to the house of her daughter in Khindiristan.

The village residents say Mammadova suffered mental affection. They say the woman disappeared two days ago.

http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=112863

''Azerbaijani soldier killed by Armenians'' is a new one. Shunme bagas.

[ninetoyadome]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

what a shock azeris cant find the body of the supposed victim and Armenian soldiers did a good job of cleaning the blood from the area they shot the guy because there is no trace. also apparently now he was walking towards the contact line but yesterday he was fishing, wow these guys love to lie

Azerbaijani soldiers don’t find Eldar Tagiyev’s body

[ 30 Dec 2009 16:06 ]
Tovuz. Aykhan Huseynov – APA. On December 28, resident of Alibeyli village of Azerbaijan’s Tovuz region Tagiyev Eldar Heydar, who was shot by Armenian forces on the line of contact between the Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, most probably was taken hostage by the Armenian militants, local official of the Alibeyli village Maharram Gasimov told APA western bureau.

He said Azerbaijani soldiers examined the place where Tagiyev was shot, but didn’t find his body or any trace.

Gasimov said next day – on December 29 at about 11.00 someone called to Tagiyev’s mobile phone which was left at home and to the phone of Tagiyev’s son-in-law. His son-in-law said he likely heard Tagiyev’s voice, but it was so unclear that he couldn’t identify it.

Gasimov said it was not known why Tagiyev so closely approached the contact line.

Reports spread that Tovuz resident Tagiyev Eldar Heydar was killed as the Armenians violated ceasefire. Armenians reportedly fired at Eldar Tagiyev, 45, near the line of contact in Alibayli village of Tovuz region at 18.00 on December 28.

Alibayli residents told APA’s west bureau that Tagiyev died on the spot.

According to initial reports, he was shot by Armenians while fishing in the Tovuz river running near the line of contact between Alibayli village and Aygezor village of Armenia’s Berd region. The village residents say his body remained on the contact line for some time, later taken by Armenians.

According to other reports, Tagiyev was captured by Armenians.

[Joseph]

Re: Nagorno-Karabagh: Military Balance Between Armenia & Azerbaijan

Great article but not enough emphasis on Armenia's and NKR's anti-aircarft defense but generally an accurate synopsis


WPS Agency, Russia
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
December 30, 2009 Wednesday



ARMED AND HENCE DANGEROUS;
Azerbaijan and Armenia do not have superiority over each other

by Anatoly Khramchikhin
Source: Nezavismaya Gazeta, December 28, 2009, p. 10
[Translated from Russian]

MILITARY REVANCHE IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH: CHANCES OF AZERBAIJAN LOOK
ILLUSORY NOW; Neither Azerbaijan nor Armenia has decisive military
superiority. That is why a possible future war for Nagorno-Karabakh
will be fruitless and will not change the status quo.

After breakup of the USSR Armenia, Azerbaijan and self-proclaimed
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic received mostly their "own" parts of the
former Soviet army that were on their territories.

After breakup of the USSR Azerbaijan received 436 tanks, 558 fighting
infantry vehicles, 389 armored personnel carriers, 388 artillery
systems, 63 airplanes and eight helicopters. At the beginning of 1993,
Armenia had only 77 tanks, 150 fighting infantry vehicles, 38 armored
personnel carriers, 160 artillery systems, three airplanes and 13
helicopters. Along with this, the armed forces of Nagorno-Karabakh
became a "gray zone." Nagorno-Karabakh received some part (although a
small one) of armament of the Soviet army (the former 366th mechanized
infantry regiment) and some part of unregistered armament handed over
to it by Armenia.

Despite that the strength of the armed forces of Nagorno-Karabakh was
not known for sure, there were no doubts that by the beginning of the
Nagorno-Karabakh war Azerbaijan had a very significant superiority
over the armed forces of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Moreover so, a
part of the armed forces of Armenia was used for guarding of the
border with Turkey that fully supported Baku and only presence of
Russian forces on the territory of Armenia prevented direct
interference of Turkey into the conflict.

Despite the superiority, Azerbaijan was seriously defeated in that war.

Armenia recognized loss of 52 tanks T-72, 54 fighting infantry
vehicles, 40 armored personnel carriers, six guns and mortars.
Naturally, losses of Nagorno-Karabakh were not known. Azerbaijan lost
186 tanks (160 T-72 and 26 T-55), 111 fighting infantry vehicles,
eight armored personnel carriers, seven self-propelled artillery
systems 47 guns and mortars, five multiple rocket launcher systems,
14-16 airplanes and five or six helicopters. It also wrote off the
following damaged hardware: 43 tanks (including 18 T-72), 83 fighting
infantry vehicles, 31 armored personnel carriers, one self-propelled
artillery system, 42 guns and mortars and eight multiple rocket
launcher systems.

Along with this, Azerbaijan took 23 T-72s, 14 fighting infantry
vehicles, 14 armored personnel carriers, one self-propelled artillery
system, eight guns and mortars from Armenia. Along with this, a
significant part of the armament lost by Azerbaijan was taken either
in good repair or with insignificant damages by the Armenian forces
and was included into the armed forces of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic.

Naturally, after the end of the war both countries were actively
arming themselves. Russia was the most important source of military
hardware for Armenia and something was bought in Eastern Europe.
Armenia also became the only buyer of Chinese multiple rocket launcher
system WM-80 (four units) copied by China from Smerch so far.

Due to the oil revenues Azerbaijan has military budget 300% bigger
than that of Armenia. Ukraine became the main armament supplier for
Baku. Azerbaijan declares that it has 381 tanks, 181 armored vehicles,
404 artillery systems, 75 combat airplanes and 15 strike helicopters.

With regard to Armenia, judging by the data that it provides in
accordance with the conventional forces in Europe treaty, its armed
forces remain stable for many years. As of January 1, Yerevan declared
that it had 110 tanks, 140 armored vehicles, 239 artillery systems, 16
airplanes and eight helicopters.

With regard to the armed forces of Nagorno-Karabakh, according to the
Azerbaijani data they have 316 tanks, 324 armored vehicles and 322
artillery systems. These data were obtained by arithmetic calculations
of where the Soviet armament went in the early 1990s. Along with this,
losses during the war are not taken into account (they are simply not
known) as well as the trophies (they are not known too).

Along with this, amazing stability of the Armenian armed forces shows
that at least a part of the armament acquired by Armenia is
transferred to the armed forces of Nagorno-Karabakh.

By now, Azerbaijan achieved almost 300% superiority over Armenia in
tanks and almost 400% superiority in combat airplanes. Along with
this, the armed forces of Nagorno-Karabakh are not taken into account.
There are grounds to suspect that the ground forces of
Nagorno-Karabakh are at least not less than the Armenian ones. This
means that even if Azerbaijan has ground superiority it is very
insignificant. Along with this, geography plays on the side of
Armenians. Hence, the Azerbaijani potential is absolutely insufficient
for successful offensive.

Only in the air Azerbaijan has an indisputable superiority. Armenia
has one MiG-25 and Azerbaijan has 32 MiG-25s. Along with this, their
usefulness is not much bigger than that of one Armenian airplane. The
reason is that MiG-25 is a very specific airplane. In the Soviet Air
Defense Forces it was intended for combating of American strategic
bombers and reconnaissance airplanes and not for maneuverable air
combat. It is simply unsuitable for fulfillment of tactical tasks.

Along with this, attack airplanes Su-25 fight perfectly well on the
battlefield and each party has 15 such airplanes. For attacking of
ground targets Azerbaijan has five frontline bombers Su-24 and five
old but good attack airplanes Su-17. For maneuverable air combat
Azerbaijan has five ancient MiG-21s that are quite suitable for this
theater and 13 quite new MiG-29s. Correspondingly, the air force of
Azerbaijan will neutralize the Armenian Su-25 having no fighter
support easily (one MiG-25 cannot fulfill this task for sure),
enabling Azerbaijan bombers and attack airplanes to work on the
battlefield unopposed.

In any case, the power of Azerbaijani air force is not as big as to
change the course of the war on the ground (it is also possible to
suspect that the level of pilot skills is not the best in the world).
Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh also have ground air defense that may be
very efficient in the mountains.

That is why it is possible to say with assurance that chances of
Azerbaijan for military revanche look very illusory now.