Azerbaijani MoD: Armenian provocation leads to deaths, injuries in Karabakh

Azerbaijani Defence Ministry has been informed about the transportation of ammunition and personnel from Armenia to the territory of Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily deployed, using the Khankendi-Khalfali-Turshsu unsurfaced road.

"On the morning of March 5, Azerbaijani army units attempted to check vehicles carrying out illegal military transport in order to verify the information received," Caliber.Az reports, citing the ministry.

"Shots were fired from the opposite side. The skirmish resulted in fatalities and injuries on both sides," the ministry said.

"The Azerbaijani side informs the Russian peacekeeping contingent command that the implementation of the points of the trilateral statement must be ensured unconditionally and in full. We inform you that the only road between the Karabakh economic region and the Republic of Armenia is the Khankendi-Lachin road. Once again, we remind the command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent that the transport of military and other supplies via other routes is entirely unacceptable"

It should be reminded that the facts of transportation from Armenia to the Karabakh economic region of ammunition, and other military supplies, including mines, fuel and manpower, were previously established.

In connection with the transportation of mines along the indicated route, the Azerbaijani side has repeatedly warned the international community.  In addition, in 2022, trips were organized for representatives of the joint Turkish-Russian Monitoring Center to this area to inspect the mines laid by the Armenian side and subsequently discovered.

The incident that took place today once again testifies to the need for Azerbaijan to create an appropriate checkpoint on the Lachin-Khankendi road.

The fact that Armenia is still carrying out military transportation to the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan is the ongoing aggression of this country against Azerbaijan and the policy of terror.
All responsibility for the committed provocation lies with the military-political leadership of Armenia,” the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said in a statement.