Azerbaijani subversive groups took unsuccessful attempts of border penetration on the night of Wednesday, Aug 12, spokesperson for the Armenian Defense Ministry, Artsrun Hovhannisyan, said in a Facebook post.
“Azerbaijani military and political authorities destabilize the line of contact… Azeri armed forces violate truce with shots fired from various caliber weapons, including 60mm and 82mm mortars. The Armenian Defense Ministry presents statistics on violations almost every day,” he said.
According to Hovhannisyan, 109 shells were fired from 82mm mortars on Tuesday and the following night. Besides, two unsuccessful border penetration attempts were registered during the reporting period.
“The Armenian side has repeatedly warned the Azerbaijan that calls for military solution to the conflict are manifestation of self-deception. Provocations of such kind are fraught with unpredictable consequences for the Azerbaijani army,” the official said.
Hovhannisyan also noted that the RA Defense Ministry stands for peaceful resolution of the conflict and the need for ceasefire maintenance, atmosphere of mutual trust, as well as introduction of an international mechanism to investigate violations.
The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan broke out as result of the ethnic cleansing launched by the Azeri authorities in the final years of the Soviet Union. The Karabakh War was fought from 1991 (when the Nagorno Karabakh Republic was proclaimed) to 1994 (when a ceasefire was sealed by Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan). Most of Nagorno Karabakh and a security zone consisting of 7 regions are now under control of NKR defense army. Armenia and Azerbaijan are holding peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group up till now.