Lachin region was handed over to Azerbaijan under the control of Russian peacekeepers on December 1 in accordance with the Nagorno-Karabakh peace deal signed by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, said Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov.

Major General Igor Konashenkov also stated that Lachin was the last of the three districts planned to be handed over under the agreement.

Konashenkov added that the 5-kilometer-wide Lachin corridor was under the control of Russian peacekeepers. "The corridor provides communication between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh region, the safe return of people to their homes and the movement of civilian transport", he added.

Armenian Armed Forces launched a large-scale military attack on positions of Azerbaijani army on the front line, using large-caliber weapons, mortars and artillery on Sept. 27. Azerbaijan responded with a counter-offensive along the entire front.

On November 10, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia signed an agreement to end six weeks of fierce fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Under the agreement, Russian peacekeepers were deployed along the front line in Nagorno-Karabakh and the corridor between the region and Armenia.

A total of 1,960 Russian peacekeepers were deployed in Nagorno-Karabakh under a five-year mandate.

Also, according to the agreement, on 20 November, Armenia handed over the Aghdam region which lies to the east of Nagorno-Karabakh, to Azerbaijan. This followed on 25 November by the Kalbajar region to the northwest of Nagorno-Karabakh. 

Finally, on 1 December, Armenia handed over the Lachin District, over which the Lachin pass connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia passes.

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