Polish embassy in Armenia cautions compatriots amid martial law

Poland's embassy in Armenia has requested particular caution of Poles in that country in connection with the declaration of martial law in the Republic of Armenia.

"In connection with the announcement of martial law in the Republic of Armenia, the Polish embassy in Yerevan requests Polish citizens in Armenia to maintain particular caution in obeying the recommendations of local authorities for foreigners, in the event of their announcement," the Polish embassy tweeted.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced on Sunday the introduction of martial law in the country and a general mobilisation in relation to an escalation in the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh.

"On the decision of the government of Armenia, martial law is introduced in the republic and a general mobilisation. The decision comes into force at the time of publication," Pashinyan wrote on Facebook. Earlier, Nagorno-Karabakh had announced martial law and a general mobilisation.

Later on Sunday evening, the Polish embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan, issued a recommendation to avoid travel beyond the area of the Absheron Peninsula, where Baku is located. The embassy urged people to exercise particular caution due to the "tense situation along the Azerbaijan-Armenia border" and to avoid crowds.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on Sunday introducing martial law nationwide, effective from midnight.

Azerbaijan and Armenia each accuse the other of escalating the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. According to Yerevan, Azerbaijani forces attacked civilian settlements in the region. The ministry of defence in Baku said that Armenian forces had "conducted a major provocation" and fired on Azerbaijani military positions in the border areas.