An Armenian soldier was killed Wednesday in an exchange of fire on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Armenia’s defence ministry said.
The Armenian ministry said the soldier was killed when Azeri forces opened fire on Armenian soldiers who attempted to prevent Azerbaijan from carrying out fortifications on the border near the Nakhchivan region.
Armenia says the Azerbaijani side has also suffered losses and warns that Azerbaijan will be responsible for any escalation.
”The Armenian Defence Ministry strongly condemns this provocation on the part of Azerbaijan and warns that it will respond harshly. Azerbaijan’s military-political leadership bears full responsibility for further escalating the situation,” an Armenian statement reads.
Azerbaijan’s Defence Ministry said Armenian forces opened fire on the Azeri positions, and that an Azeri soldier was wounded.
Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia are still strained following last year’s war over the Region of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh), which resulted in Armenia being defeated and losing part of the territory.
