The Armenian population in the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region have agreed to Azerbaijan’s cease-fire proposal, but talks remain ongoing amid fears of continued repression and possible genocide.

"Realizing the unsustainable nature of their military losses as well as the futility of their attempts to use the Armenian residents as human shields, illegal junta leaders have conveyed their willingness to surrender a few hours after the start of the counter-terror measures," the Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry told Fox News Digital. 

The ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, who call themselves the "Republic of Artsakh," surrendered after Azeri forces broke through their lines and seized a number of strategic points, seemingly putting an end to a decadeslong conflict with Azerbaijan. 

A statement from the Republic of Artsakh following the surrender slammed much of the world for "inadequate" action and failing to protect the 120,000 Christians in the region from what Armenia and its supporters have alleged amounted to the start of a genocide. 

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"Considering all this, the authorities of the Republic of Artsakh accept the proposal of the command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent to cease-fire," Artsakh’s statement said, adding that the cease-fire would take effect at 1 p.m. local time on Wednesday. 

The Karabakh forces agreed to disband and disarm, and Azerbaijan confirmed the ceasefire and surrender. All ammunition and heavy military equipment would be handed over, and Russia’s peacekeeping contingent stationed in the area would help coordinate the cease-fire details. 

David Babayan, an adviser to Nagorno-Karabakh's breakaway ethnic Armenian leader Samvel Shahramanyan, told Reuters that talks remain ongoing, and the ethnic Armenian population requires guarantees on certain conditions before agreeing to a final deal. When asked about giving up weapons, Babayan said his people could not be left to die, so security guarantees were needed first.

"A whole host of questions still needs to be resolved," he said. "At any moment they could destroy us, engage in genocide against us."

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Armenia retained control of the region since 1994 following the fall of the Soviet Union, but Azerbaijan regained control in 2020 after six weeks of brutal fighting between the two countries. Russia helped brokered the initial peace deal then claimed to have agreed on further peace deals on two occasions – most recently in March of this year - following a deadly weekend clash. 

Much of the recent tensions have resulted from Azerbaijan's blockade of the region, starving Nagorno-Karabakh of necessary resources in a manner that Armenia and its supporters. 

Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., sent a letter to the Biden White House imploring it to speak out on the issue, and former International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo argued there was "reasonable basis" to believe the blockade amounted to genocide.

Azerbaijan’s defense minister insisted that Tuesday’s assault, which the government continually referred to as a "counter-terrorism operation," targeted "legitimate military targets and military infrastructure," The Wall Street Journal reported. 

Azerbaijan claims that the assault resulted in the loss of 60 combat posts, 20 combat vehicles, more than 40 pieces of heavy artillery, 30 mortars, six "modern electronic warfare systems" and two anti-aircraft missile systems in what amounted to a total rout of the enemy forces.

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The Azerbaijani government also claimed that the number of alleged weapons and reinforced positions indicated that Armenia had maintained "illegal militarization" in the region "in a clear violation of its commitments to withdraw its armed forces from the territory of Azerbaijan." 

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Fox News Digital that it would commence "meaningful and peaceful dialogue" with the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh regarding reintegration into the "legal and political framework of Azerbaijan," including "real representatives of the local Armenian population … without the ever-present and looming threat of military provocations."

However, the foreign ministry insisted that the process could not start until certain conditions regarding Armenia’s alleged involvement had been met. Azerbaijan continually referred to Nagorno-Karabakh as a "puppet regime" for Armenia and accused Armenia of maintaining an illegal armed presence in the region. 

"It must be highlighted that with the elimination of the risks and threats associated with the illegal presence of the Armenian armed forces in its territory, Azerbaijan is fully committed to provide its Armenian residents with rights and freedoms the citizens of Azerbaijan are fully entitled to according to national and international legislation, including on the rights of persons belonging to national minorities," the foreign ministry said. 

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Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has insisted that Armenia was not involved in the discussions and acceptance of the ceasefire, and he further alleged that the fact Azerbaijan mentioned Armenia in its statements served as proof that the goal was to drag his country into armed conflict. 

"Mentioning the name of Republic of Armenia in a text which has basically nothing to do with the Republic of Armenia justifies my hypothesis, approach and assessment made yesterday that one of the goals of the attack against Nagorno-Karabakh is to drag the Republic of Armenia into military actions," Pashinyan said on Wednesday in a press release. 

"Of course, I have one assessment, that if it were possible to drag Armenia into military operations, the deep target of that would have been the independence and sovereignty of Armenia," Pashinyan said, adding that his government would continue to monitor the situation as evacuations for those desiring to leave the region get underway.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the timing of a phone call between President Vladimir Putin and Armenia's Pashinyan was still being determined.

Reuters contributed to this report. 

A woman in Colorado was headbutted and stomped on by a moose while she was walking her dog, wildlife officials say. 

Colorado Parks and Wildlife said the incident happened Wednesday along the South Saint Vrain Trail near Ward, outside of Boulder. 

"The woman and her dog surprised a moose on the trail Wednesday morning. The cow moose charged the woman, headbutting and stomping on her several times," it said. "She was able to walk to a nearby neighbor’s house, where they called Boulder County deputies." 

Officials say the woman was taken to a local hospital while the dog – which the neighbor says was leashed – had minor injuries. 

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"Wildlife officers responded to the area and were unable to find the moose," it added. 

One sign that has since been put up in the area, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, says "Do Not Approach Wildlife – Moose in Area – Leash Your Pets." 

Another sign next to it warns visitors of a "cow moose with calves active in area." 

"They will aggressively defend calves from people and dogs," it adds. 

"Hikers should be aware moose may be in the area resting or eating. Moose can perceive dogs as a threat, and CPW encourages dog owners to keep them on-leash at all times to avoid confrontations," Colorado Parks and Wildlife also said in a statement. "Cow moose can become particularly aggressive when their calf is nearby." 

The moose attack is the third in Boulder County this year, according to The Associated Press. 

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Last Tuesday, a hiker in Colorado was trampled by another moose. 

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife department said the incident happened when two people and their three dogs were hiking near Crags Trail in Teller County, about a 50-minute drive west of Colorado Springs. 

While the hikers were about a mile into Crags Trail, a cow moose and its calf were observed, and the individuals decided to go around while keeping their distance, the agency stated. 

The moose, however, moved closer to the hikers. 

One of the dogs began to bark as the moose continued to approach, it "came at them" and trampled a hiker in the group. 

Even after the hikers got the moose off, it continued to chase after them. 

Officials say the injured hiker was able to walk out of the confrontation and went to a hospital to be evaluated. The hiker only sustained minor injuries. 

Fox News’ Adam Sabes contributed to this report.