Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has received an apology from a fellow dictator, according to the Russian regime in Moscow.
The Kremlin reports that it is Azerbaijan's dictator Ilhan Aliyev who has apologized to Putin.
In a phone call, Aliyev expressed his "deepest condolences" for the Russian peacekeeping troops who were killed in the Nagorno-Karabakh region yesterday.
Azerbaijan had initiated an "anti-terror operation" in the region, which had been under Armenian control. During the clashes, several Russian soldiers were killed by Azerbaijani military forces. According to Reuters, the Russian troops' vehicles were fired upon.
Now, Azerbaijani dictator Ilhan Aliyev is apologizing. "Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had a telephone conversation at the initiative of the Azerbaijani side," the Kremlin said in a statement.
"During the call, Aliyev apologized and expressed his deep condolences for the tragic deaths of Russia's peacekeeping forces in Karabakh."
Historically, Russia has sided with Armenia, but under Putin's rule, the country has distanced itself from Armenia's democratic development. As democracy has evolved in Armenia, Putin has instead grown closer to his Azerbaijani dictator colleague Aliyev.
The Armenian separatists in Nagorno-Karabakh have declared that they have agreed to lay down their arms after two days of intense fighting.
However, the separatists are demanding security guarantees.
"We have agreed to cease military actions, but we are waiting for a final agreement. Talks are ongoing; we'll see. We need to discuss many issues," said David Babayan, advisor to Nagorno-Karabakh's president Samvel Shahramanyan, to Reuters.
