Putin makes brutal move that could 'destabilise global security'
Despite three years of conflict with Ukraine, it seems Russian President Vladimir Putin's aggressive plans have not been dampened, and the autocrat may now be targeting Azerbaijan.
The build-up of troops at the Gyumri base in Armenia was initially denied by both Armenians and Russians. However, Ukrainian military intelligence has now shed light on what they claim are the official orders to redeploy the military personnel.
Azerbaijan, rich in oil and gas which it exports to Western nations, has been an independent state since 1991 following the collapse of the old Soviet Union.
Relations between Azerbaijan, located in the South Caucasus on the border between Eastern Europe and West Asia, and its former rulers have recently soured after several dozen ethnic Azerbaijanis were arrested in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg in relation to a series of murders that occurred 15 years ago, reports the Mirror US.
While in custody, the men were also assaulted, and two brothers - the primary suspects in the case - subsequently died.
Authorities in Baku accused Russian security forces of intentionally killing the men, cancelled all cultural events related to Russia, raided the Sputnik news agency, detaining its employees and several Russian IT specialists. Russian nationals in Azerbaijan are now subjected to regular document checks.
Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) has levelled accusations at Moscow, claiming it is attempting to increase its influence in the South Caucasus and 'destabilise the global security situation'.
Both Armenia and Russia have rejected these allegations. However, HUR has now produced a document which they claim substantiates their accusations, describing it as an "order from the commander of the troops of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces on the replenishment of the Russian military base in Armenia."
The document reportedly details measures for the swift 'replenishment' of Russian units by selecting personnel from the 8th, 18th, 49th and 58th combined arms armies of the Southern Military District of the Russian Armed Forces.
In addition to inciting interethnic conflict, Moscow is said to be bolstering its military presence in the Caucasus. "Alongside stoking interethnic conflict, Moscow is building up its military presence in the Caucasus. It is likely that the deterioration of relations between Azerbaijan and Russia was prepared in advance."
The 102nd military base in Guymri, the largest Russian military facility in the South Caucasus, houses up to 5,000 personnel and is equipped with MiG-29 fighter jets and S-300 air defence systems.
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