Defense Ministry confirms Karabakh soldier’s death in Azeri attack

Defense Ministry confirms Karabakh soldier’s death in Azeri attack

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Defense Ministry confirmed the March 24 death of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic army soldier in an Azeri attack. A criminal case was instigated in accordance with the Article 104 of the Criminal Code (murder over national, racial, or religion-based hatred), the Ministry's PR department officer Mery Sargsyan told PanARMENIAN.Net

On the morning of March 24, Garnik Torosyan, 22 was shot dead while on duty at the contact line between Karabakh and Azeri armed forces.

A Nagorno Karabakh army soldier Arman Ghukasyan, 20, died from gunshot wounds while on duty on March 19; another servicemen, Varazdat Zakaryan was injured. Investigation of the incident, which occurred in the northern direction of the line of contact between the NKR and Azeri armed forces, is under way.

In late January, a Nagorno Karabakh army soldier, Karen Galstyan, aged 20, sustained a deadly injury in a sniper attack at the northern direction of the line of contact with the Azerbaijani armed forces.

Simultaneous attempts of penetration by the Azerbaijani subversive groups were recorded on January 19-20 in the north-eastern (Jraberd) and south-eastern (Korgan) directions of the line of contact . The front units of the armed forces of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic noticed the actions of the Azerbaijani subversive groups and started an organized defense in both directions. The rival was thrown back suffering palpable human and material losses. Junior Sergeant Armen Hovhannisyan died from the wounds he received during the exchange of fire in the north-eastern direction.

Also, as a result of the continuous firing from the Azerbaijani side, a 16-year-old girl was wounded in her leg on Jan 23 night in Aygepar village of Armenia’s Tavush province. Intensive fire was registered in the direction of Armenian border villages of Nerkin Karmraghbyur, Aygepar, Chinari and Movses, RA Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan told PanARMENIAN.Net

The injured girl underwent a surgery in the hospital of Berd town and was later discharged, according to Ankakh.com.

“The Azeris fired upon houses, roofs. Now the firing has stopped,” one of Aygepar residents told Razm.info.

According to Nerkin Karmraghbyur’s page on Facebook, the firing ceased at about 5 am the next day. No one was injured; roofs of some houses were damaged. Earlier, village administration head Manvel Kamendatyan said that the electricity was turned off to avoid ignition.

Meanwhile, Azeri media outlets spread reports alleging that a woman was wounded by Armenians. However, no official comments followed.

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