" Any attack on such a city will result in significant civilian casualties, and will broaden the scope of this conflict ''- John J. Maresca

Since the beginning of the fighting on September 27th, the Armenian forces have been launching deliberate and targeted missile/rocket attacks on several densely populated Azerbaijani districts and cities, almost all of them located significantly far from the Nagorno Karabakh region. During the last couple of days, however, these attacks against the civilian population and infrastructure in Ganja, Mingachevir, Barda, Tartar, Shamkir, Barda and other major cities have been intensified.

On 4 October in the morning, the Armenian side conducted several strikes, most probably with Russian- produced Smerch missiles, against Ganja, the second biggest city of Azerbaijan. One man died, 32 people got injured, and a number of houses were destroyed.

Within the same day, the Armenian side launched 4 TOCHKA Short Range Theatre Ballistic Missiles to Mingachevir industrial city, - where the largest water reservoir in the South Caucasus and the key electricity plant of Azerbaijan is situated. Though no serious damage to infrastructure was inflicted, several civilians got wounded, with one missile landing in close proximity to one of the critical energy blocks.

As the result of the heavy shelling against aforementioned areas, 25 Azerbaijani civilians were killed and dozens wounded. The areas shelled are all situated far from any significant military objects. According to initial research, the missiles were highly likely launched from the territory of Armenia itself, as against the separatists-controlled area.

Commenting on this matter, John J. Maresca, the former United States Ambassador and Special Representative for mediation of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, stated in interview to CCBS that: The artillery attack on Ganja is a significant escalation of this conflict, and it is difficult to believe that it was carried out solely by people from Nagorno Karabakh. They simply do not have the military means to carry out such an attack. Ganja is a major city which is some distance from the center of the fighting. Any attack on such a city will result in significant civilian casualties, and will broaden the scope of this conflict.