Azerbaijani MFA: Armenia keen to increase military tension in region through terrorism

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has stated that the September 19 mine explosion in the Khojavand region has once again shown that Armenia and the so-called regime created by it are keen to increase military tension in the region through terrorism. 

On September 19, 2023, a vehicle fell into an anti-tank mine buried in the Khojavand region by the sabotage-reconnaissance group of the Armenian armed forces present in the territories of Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily stationed, Caliber.Az reports, citing the ministry’s press service.

As a result of this provocation, 2 civilians were killed. Thus, the total number of mine victims after the Second Garabagh War of 2020 to date has reached 314, of which 61 people have died, the ministry said.

"The mine incidents in the territory of the Khojavand district once again show that the main goal of Armenia, which has flagrantly violated paragraph 4 of the Trilateral Statement, has not yet withdrawn its armed forces from the territory of Azerbaijan, continues its military activities and placement of mines, and the fictitious regime it has created, is to escalate military tension in the region and terrorism. These provocations are also aimed at obstructing the large-scale reconstruction and construction work carried out by Azerbaijan in the post-conflict period and the return of internally displaced persons to their lands.

In order to ensure peace and security in the region, military provocations and terrorist acts by Armenia and the illegal regime created by it must be strongly condemned and stopped," the statement reads.