Another Armenian soldier killed as Azeris continue violating ceasefire

By Asbarez | Thursday, 05 February 2015

Armenian soldiers at an army post at the Artsakh-Azerbaijan border

STEPANAKERT—An Armenian serviceman of the Artsakh Defense Army, Shekspir Hakobyan, 24, was killed early Thursday morning as a result of more ceasefire violations by the Azerbaijani side in the eastern region of the line of contact between Artsakh and Azerbaijan, the Artsakh Defense Army’s press office reported.

The Army said the adversary maintained intensive firing Wednesday night and throughout Thursday.

The frontline troops of the Artsakh Defense Army took responsive measures to counter Azeri offensives. Casualties on the Azerbaijani side are reported. The Army says a probe into the details of Hakobyan’s death is underway.

“The NKR [Nagorno Karabakh Republic] Defense Ministry shares the sorrow of this heavy loss and expresses its support to Shekspir Hakobyan’s family and friends,” the Defense Army said in a statement.

Armenian Defense Ministry Says Azerbaijan Shelling Own Villages
“The Azerbaijani side is launching provocation by shelling its own villages,” Spokesman for the Armenian Ministry of Defense Artsrun Hovhannisian said in a Facebook post.

“The Azerbaijani Parakhlar settlement has been under fire starting from 22:40 [10:40 p.m.], February 4,” the Spokesman said.

He noted that the Azeri side is firing from positions located across from Baghanis and Shavarshavan villages in Armenia’s Tavush province.

“This is yet another provocation of the Azerbaijani side,” Hovhannisyan said.