Azerbaijani army units open mortar fire towards their own positions (video) May 19, 2017 - 18:10 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Azerbaijani armed forces opened mortar fire towards their own positions twice on Friday, May 19 afternoon, the Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) Defense Army said in a statement. “Deliberately escalating the situation on the contact line and initiating provocations in recent days, Azerbaijan has today taken incomprehensible measures,” the statement said. Azeri troops, in particular, employed 60-mm mortars to shell their own positions. “The incident either proves that the rival’s personnel have poor command of their professional duties, or points to the lack of a vertical system of management, enabling any commander to make decisions,” the statement said. Also, the Artsakh army assumed that Azerbaijan may be paving the way for new provocations on the contact line. According to the Karabakh Defense Army, the Armenian side remained committed to the ceasefire and refrained from using force. Around 90 ceasefire violations by Azerbaijan were registered on the contact line with Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) on May 18 and the following night, with more than 1300 shots fired from various caliber firearms. Besides, Azeri forces also employed a grenade launcher and a 60-mm mortar in various directions of the frontline. 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 | 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.” |