Two journalists from Paris daily 'Le Monde' seriously injured in Azerbaijani strike on Nagorno-Karabakh, one in ‘grave’ condition

Two journalists from French newspaper Le Monde have suffered serious injuries after shelling by Azerbaijani forces hit a group of reporters covering the conflict between Yerevan and Baku over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

The journalists were working in Martuni, in the eastern part of the disputed territory, when the Azerbaijani military hit the city with an airstrike, the Paris daily said on Thursday. Two Armenian reporters also suffered injuries in the incident, and one local law enforcement officer died, according to Yerevan.

Bloodstains and equipment are seen in a car of Armenian reporters damaged in a shelling at the town of Martuni in Nagorno-Karabakh, on October 1, 2020. ©  Reuters / Armenian Unified Infocenter

Both of the journalists were rushed to a hospital in Stepanakert – the largest city in  Nagorno-Karabakh, and its de facto capital. Citing an Armenian official, Reuters reported that one of the reporters was in a “grave” condition. 

The journalists were said to be filming civilians in Martuni when they were hit. French President Emmanuel Macron said the foreign ministry’s “crisis center” had been mobilized and a medical plane had been prepared to take both injured reporters home “as soon as possible.” 

“We are doing everything to stabilize the wounded on the spot before allowing their evacuation,” the French leader said ahead of an EU summit in Brussels. 

In a separate incident, a car carrying a group of Agence France Presse staff was also hit by Azerbaijani forces, according to Armenian media. The journalists managed to exit the vehicle unharmed, however.

Dozens of military and civilian casualties have been reported by both sides during the five days of intense fighting between the two South Caucasus nations, which have accused each other of targeting non-combatants.

The escalation of violence is the latest flare-up in a decades-old conflict between Yerevan and Baku over Nagorno-Karabakh, an internationally recognized part of Azerbaijan that is populated by ethnic Armenians seeking independence from Baku.

Recent developments have sparked concerns among world leaders, with Moscow, Paris, and Washington jointly calling on both sides to immediately cease violence and return to diplomacy. Ankara, meanwhile, has pledged its full support for its long-time ally Azerbaijan.

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