Wolfsschanze: General Volkov's smuggling lair in Karabakh Following the March 5 clash

Vardanyan is gone, but the commander of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, so-called "General" Andrei Volkov, continues to develop its illegal business and collect funds for future pension. As we mentioned in our previous stories, upon his arrival to Karabakh General Volkov established quite close relations with the heads of the remaining bandit formations, and, apparently, not yet fully recovered from the heat of the wild 90s, began to protect their machinations, turning his temporary responsibility in Karabakh into a zone of chaos and lawlessness. So, in particular, the general ensured the safe export of raw materials from Karabakh gold mines near the village Gulyatag of the former Ahgdere (now Tartar) region of Azerbaijan and had his own share of local viticulture.

But even after pressure from Baku and a picket of eco-activists on the Lachin-Khankendi the illegal mining operations in Karabakh were suspended, the "accumulation account" of General Volkov continued to grow. Well, in a separatist entity, not only raw materials from the mines can become a source of income. Moreover, due to the fault of the Russian side, a shootout took place on the Khankendi-Khalfali-Turshsu dirt road on March 5, resulting in the death of two servicemen of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.

As informed sources told Caliber.Az, after the eco-activists organised the protest on the Lachin-Khankendi section of the road, the criminal elements in the zone of responsibility of the Russian peacekeepers began to actively use the bypass road to Armenia. Yes, it is uncomfortable and unpaved, but has this ever stopped smugglers from making money? This road was also used to transport weapons and ammunition for illegal gangs, and personnel for gang rotation.

The Karabakh bandits were not particularly worried about the security of the deliveries and transportation because it was provided by a proven business partner - Andrei Volkov. Naturally, he didn't do it out of the goodness of his heart. Volkov had his "piece of the pie" from each vehicle that entered or exited Khankendi.

Of course, this could not proceed for long. The Azerbaijani side, which had become aware of the fact that ammunition and other military equipment, including mines, fuel, and manpower, were being smuggled from Armenia into the Karabakh Economic Region, decided to conduct a surprise check on the bypass road. We assume that, as is normal in such situations, to avoid accidental clashes with Russian military personnel, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence has informed the RPC command of the date and location of the inspection. The rest is already known.

On the morning of March 5, in order to check the information received by the Azerbaijani Army units an attempt was made to detain and check vehicles carrying out illegal transportation, and the fire was opened towards our servicemen. Two servicemen of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces and three members of Armenian gangs were killed. The story is, of course, very dark and needs to be thoroughly investigated.

A brief digression into history. It cannot be said that General Volkov was the first to realise that a business trip to Karabakh, or rather the phantom idea of "miatsum" (unification of Armenia and Karabakh), would make him rich. As we remember, Russian-Soviet officers were also engaged in it in 1988-1991. Take, for example, Krivopuskov who in 1990-1991 was chief of staff of the investigative-operative group of the USSR Interior Ministry in the then NKAO of the Azerbaijan SSR.

However, instead of catching members of Armenian gangs, he cooperated with them and took steam in the sauna with separatist leaders Kocharyan and Sargsyan, informing them about the upcoming operations of units of the Azerbaijani OMON and the USSR Interior Ministry troops in Karabakh.

Subsequently, as it's easy to figure out, Krivopuskov became a dear friend of the Armenian people, chairman of the Russian Society of Friendship and Cooperation with Armenia, adviser to the Russian Embassy in Armenia, and a recipient of numerous awards. In other words, a sauna with Kocharyan provided the Russian officer with a comfortable old age.

And before the March 5 incident, the Azerbaijani public had collected a lot of claims and questions to RPC. It is obvious that Volkov and his fellows are delaying the peace process in Karabakh with their foolish lust for profit, which is contrary to the main stated mission of the RPC, to ensure peaceful life and stability in the region.

If we call a spade a spade, such actions of the Russian side will lead to a corresponding military operation to cut off military transportation from Armenia to the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and to cleanse the remnants of the bandit formations. And no Volkovs will help them anymore. The stakes are being raised.