STEPANAKERT (Public Radio of Armenia) — Armenian shepherd Hakob Hambartsumyan, born in 1962, was killed as a result of firing from the Azerbaijani side from an Istiglal anti-materiel rifle, the Artsakh Ministry of Defense reported.

Investigation into the details of the case is under way.

The Ministry dismissed the reports of the Azeri side claiming that the Armenian forces undertook acts of sabotage at different sectors of the line of contact and retreated, incurring 5-7 losses.

“The report is simple propaganda, and has nothing to do with reality,” the Ministry said.

The Defense Ministry reported growth of tension at the line of contact last night.

The rival used artillery weapons of different caliber, such as 60 mm mortars, RPG-7, HAN-17, HHN-9 and GP-25 grenades as it fired more than 4,500 shots from weapons of different caliber in the direction of the Armenian positions.

The front divisions of the Karabakh Defense Army took retaliatory measures to pressure the activity of the rival.