Army soldier killed in Armenian sniper fire in Kalbajar

Last week saw the worst escalation of tension on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border since the signing of the November 10 trilateral statement that ended the war.

The Defence Ministry on July 23 reported that the soldier of the Azerbaijani army was killed in a sniper fire from the Armenian side in the liberated Kalbajar region.

At about 16:00, the Armenian armed forces fired at the positions of the Azerbaijani Army in the Kalbajar region of the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border from their positions in the Basarkechar region, the ministry said.

Serviceman Farman Yagublu lost his life in the attack.

The Defense Ministry stated that the Azerbaijani Army units located in this direction are carrying out response measures at the moment.

The ministry said that Armenia bears all the responsibility for the development of the situation in this way, adding that Azerbaijan retains the right to take all necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity within its international borders.

Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry also reacted to the incident, saying that the Armenian side’s regular recent provocations, the attempts to aggravate the situation in the region by shelling the Azerbaijani positions are unacceptable.

“Azerbaijan reserves the right to take all necessary measures to protect its territorial integrity within the international borders, as well as to ensure peace and security in the region,” the ministry said.

On July 19, the Azerbaijani Defence Minister instructed the army’s command staff to suppress possible provocations of the Armenian armed forces. Analyzing the latest situation in the liberated territories, including on the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border, the minister stressed that Armenia bears responsibility for the escalation of tension.

Azerbaijan also reported cease-fire violation by Armenia earlier on July 16-17.