NKR political analysts treat chances for de-escalation of Yerevan-Baku conflict as high

The acute phase of the conflict on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border will not last long, experts are convinced. Western calls for ceasing hostilities will not be followed by sanctions, Tigran Grigoryan, a political analyst, has suggested.

Since July 12, shelling has been taking place on both sides of the border of the Tovuz District of Azerbaijan with the Tavush Region of Armenia; at least 25 people fell victim thereto.

David Babayan, an advisor to the President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), believes that one should not be frivolous about the likelihood of a large-scale war.

He believes that "there will be no complete de-escalation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, but a certain decline can be expected quite soon."

Tigran Grigoryan, an NKR political analyst, has noted in his comments to the statements made by the UN, USA and OSCE that "the termination of the warfare on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border depends not only on Armenia."

Aram Arutyunyan, the head of the "United Civil Alliance" NKR's Youth Party, said that more than 200 volunteers are ready to go to the frontline, but "the authorities of Armenia and NKR see no need for that."

Earlier, Artak Kirakosyan, a rights defender, treated the actions of the parties in conflict as "unprecedented." "I don't remember them starting immediately with shelling and using heavy combat equipment," he has explained.

Araik Arutyunyan, NKR President, has accused Azerbaijan of "deliberately aggravating the situation." The situation at the border deepens the "distrust among the parties in conflict," he wrote on the Twitter.