Armenia and Azerbaijan accuse each other of breaking ceasefire pact

TBILISI, Sept 23 (Reuters) – Armenia and Azerbaijan accused one another opening fireplace in a single day on Friday, breaking a fragile ceasefire settlement that had introduced the worst preventing between the 2 ex-Soviet international locations since 2020 to an in depth final week.

In statements issued by each defence ministries on Friday morning, Baku and Yerevan every accused the opposite facet of firing first in renewed clashes alongside their shared border.

Following two days of clashes that killed virtually 200 troopers early final week, the 2 sides agreed a ceasefire, brokered by Russia, to finish hostilities, although the state of affairs on the border has remained tense.

“On September 23, at 0740 (0340 GMT), items of the Azerbaijani armed forces once more violated the ceasefire regime by firing from completely different positions towards Armenian fight positions positioned within the japanese space of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border,” Armenia’s defence ministry stated in a submit on Fb on Friday.

“The enemy’s fireplace was suppressed by retaliatory actions,” Armenia added, reporting no casualties.

Shortly after the Armenian assertion, Azerbaijan’s defence ministry issued a response, saying it was Armenia that opened fireplace first.

Baku stated Armenia’s armed forces had opened fireplace on three completely different areas of the shared border, “intermittently shelling positions of the Azerbaijani armed forces with mixed-caliber small arms” over a nine-hour interval beginning at 2345 (1945 GMT) on Thursday night time.

In an announcement revealed on the Telegram messaging app, Azerbaijan’s defence ministry additionally stated it had taken “ample retaliatory measures.”

Combating between the 2 sides erupted earlier this month in clashes that left virtually 200 troopers lifeless – the bloodiest confrontation since a six-week struggle between the 2 ex-Soviet international locations in 2020.

The preventing is linked to decades-old hostilities over management of the Nagorno-Karabakh area, internationally recognised as a part of Azerbaijan however till 2020 largely managed by the bulk ethnic Armenian inhabitants.

Armenia stated Azerbaijan attacked its territory and seized settlements inside its borders, past the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh area. Azerbaijan stated it was responding to “provocations” from the Armenian facet.

Russia is a army ally of Armenia although additionally tries to take care of pleasant relations with Azerbaijan and has resisted Yerevan’s calls to set off a mutual self-defence clause. Baku is backed militarily, financially and politically by Turkey.

Reporting by Jake Cordell; Modifying by Clarence Fernandez and Raissa Kasolowsky

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Belief Rules.