  Karabakh soldier killed in Azerbaijani ceasefire violation December 11, 2015 - 11:54 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A Nagorno Karabakh army soldier Vardan Vardanyan, aged 21, was lethally wounded in Azerbaijani ceasefire violation on December 11, at around 8:50 am. An investigation into the details of the incident is underway. According to the Karabakh Defense Ministry, 130 ceasefire violations by Azerbaijani armed forces were registered in the reporting period, with over 1100 shots fired from various caliber artillery weapons, 60-, 82-, 120-mm mortars, as well as ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft twin-barreled autocannon. Azerbaijan used a tank for the first time to shell Karabakh positions amid ongoing border tensions. On December 8, at around 9:10 pm, Karabakh soldier Gagik Avanesyan (aged 24) was lethally wounded by the rival's large-caliber sniper rifle. Karabakh Defense Ministry vowed retaliation, pledging severe and irreversible consequences.    The conflict between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan 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.  Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says.   Partner news |  Topic Latest news Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan  A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia.Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan.Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment.CSTO recognizes Armenia’s sovereign right to withdraw Tasmagambetov has said that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.” |
