Escalation of tension on Armenia-Azerbaijan border with casualties

Defence Redefined

Published on 13/07/2020 at 15:43

Moscow is concerned about the recent escalation of the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and is ready to provide the necessary assistance to promote stabilization, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a press release on Monday.

The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed serious concern about the sharp aggravation of the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border on 12 July. “According to incoming information, hostilities continue with use of artillery. Casualties have been reported. We offer our condolences to the families and friends of the victims,” said the statement of the Ministry.

The ministry noted that any further escalation is unacceptable, as it threatens the security of the region.

“We urge the warring parties to exercise restraint and adhere strictly to the ceasefire. For its part, the Russian Foreign Ministry is ready to provide the necessary assistance to stabilise the situation,” the ministry added.

This followed the statement of Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, who stressed that the Azerbaijani leadership was responsible for the consequences of the recent escalation on the border.

“The military and political leadership of Azerbaijan will be fully responsible for the consequences of regional destabilisation … we are concerned about Turkey’s position aimed at provoking destabilisation in the region, reflected in the statement of the Foreign Ministry of this country, which expresses unconditional support for the actions of Azerbaijan with obvious and traditional anti-Armenian logic,” Pashinyan said at an extraordinary government meeting.

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Earlier in the day, Armenian Defence Ministry spokeswoman, Susan Stefanian, said Azerbaijan had resumed bombing Armenian positions on Monday morning after a two- or three-hour pause, adding that Armenian forces retaliated.

On Sunday, the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry said that the Armenian army opened fire on the Tovuz area of the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border, causing clashes that resulted in casualties on both sides. Baku says three Azerbaijani soldiers were killed in the clashes, while Armenia has not recorded any deaths.

With information from Sputniknews