Azerbaijan calls Armenia’s latest armed provocation as “serious blow” to peace talks

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has described the latest armed provocation by Armenia as “a serious blow” to peace talks.

“On 12 February, as a result of another military provocation of the armed forces of Armenia, a serviceman of the State Border Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan was injured. This provocation of Armenia is a serious blow to the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia,” the ministry said in a statement, Caliber.Az reports.

According to the ministry, “in light of the stable situation of last 4-5 months, such belligerent acts blatantly contradict with peace messages by Armenia”.

Furthermore, such a provocation was carried out precisely in the territory observed by the European Union Mission in Armenia, raising major doubts regarding the Mission's goals and objectives.

“Military-political leadership of Armenia bears responsibility for such provocations against Azerbaijan,” the ministry emphasized.

To recap, on February 12 at about 13:37 on the section of the Azerbaijani-Armenian conditional state border running through the territory of Zangilan district, from the position of the Armenian Armed Forces, located in the direction of Nerkin-And settlement of Gafan district, fire was opened on the position of border troops of the State Border Guard Service of Azerbaijan, located in the village of Kollugishlag of Zangilan district.

As a result of the provocation, a serviceman of the State Border Service soldier Khalilzade Parviz Agakishi oglu was wounded. The serviceman was evacuated by helicopter to a specialized medical institution.

The incident, including the moment of opening fire from the opposite side, was recorded by video surveillance cameras.