Today.Az » Politics » MoD: Armenia commits new provocations on state border
12 January 2022 [12:16] - Today.Az


By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

Armenia's armed forces have committed another round of provocations on the state border with Azerbaijan, the Defence Ministry reported on January 12.

From 2320 to 0510 on January 11-12, the Armenian military units periodically shelled the Azerbaijani positions in Kalbajar region's Zeylik and Yellija settlements and in Tovuz region's Munjuglu, Aghbulag, Gosha, Kokhanebi and Asrik Jirdakhan villages from their positions in Basarkechar region's Yukhari Shorzha settlement, as well as in Shamshaddin region's Chinarli and Mughanjig villages. They used small arms and large-caliber machine guns, the report added.

Armenia escalates the situation on the state border without any special reason by violating its obligations that are reflected in the trilateral statements earlier signed by Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia, the ministry said.

It described the latest developments on the state border as "a deliberate military provocation and adventurism" committed by Armenia.

“In all cases, adequate and appropriate measures were taken by the Azerbaijan army units. There are no losses among the military personnel and equipment of the Azerbaijan army. Currently, the situation in these territories is relatively calm. The Azerbaijan army units control the operational situation,” the ministry emphasized.

The Azerbaijani army units ensure the intensive protection of the country’s sovereign territories and borders given the possibility of similar provocative actions by Armenia to escalate the situation on the state border, the ministry said.

On January 11, an Azerbaijani soldier was killed in a provocation by the Armenian troops near Kalbajar region on the state border. 

Furthermore, two Armenian servicemen were killed and two more were wounded as a result of Armenia's own military provocation, Trend reported with reference to the Armenian Defence Ministry.

Earlier, the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry stated that “the  Armenian military and political leadership bears full responsibility for the occurred tension”.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan’s Military Prosecutor’s Office filed a criminal action against the killing of Azerbaijani serviceman Ayaz Nazarov under Criminal Code Article 120.2.12 (murder with intent to incite national, racial, religious hatred or enmity), the Prosecutor-General’s Office reported on January 12.

An investigation is underway, the report concluded.

Meanwhile, EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Toivo Klaar expressed his concern over the escalation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border.

"Deeply worried by reports of renewed incidents and casualties on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border," Klaar said on his Twitter account.

"Important for the sides to de-escalate and make full use of available mechanisms, in particular the hotline between MoDs established under EU auspices in November 2021," he tweeted.

EU is ready to work with sides for a distancing of forces and reiterate our readiness to provide additional support in working with Armenia and Azerbaijan on border delimitation and demarcation, Klaar said.



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