BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 13. On September
12, 2022, starting at late night, the units of the armed forces of
Armenia held large-scale provocations in the directions of
Dashkasan, Kalbajar and Lachin of Azerbaijan-Armenia state border,
Trend reports.
"According to the information provided by the Ministry of Defense
of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the sabotage groups of the armed
forces of Armenia using the mountainous relief of the area and
existing valley gaps carried out planting landmines on the areas
between the positions of the units of Azerbaijan’s army and the
supply roads in different directions. In addition, the Armenian
armed forces fired intensively at the positions of the Azerbaijani
Army in Dashkasan, Kalbajar and Lachin regions with different types
of weapons, including mortars. As a result, there are casualties
among the personnel of our armed forces, damage was inflicted to
the military infrastructure.
In order to prevent further provocations by the armed forces of
Armenia and military threats against the territory and sovereignty
of our country, to ensure the safety of our military personnel,
including civilian workers involved in infrastructure activities in
the territory of Kalbajar and Lachin regions, the expansion of the
scale of the military hostilities was averted, and in order to
silence the firing points of the armed forces of Armenia definitive
retaliatory measures were taken by the units of the Azerbaijani
Army deployed in this direction. Moreover, the information
disseminated by the Armenian side that Azerbaijan’s Army allegedly
targets the civilian population, facilities, and infrastructure
does not reflect reality, and is another disinformation spread by
the Armenian side.
In general, during the last month, the provocations of the Armenian
armed forces in the direction of Lachin, Gadabay, Dashkasan and
Kalbajar regions of the state border, and cases of the firing of
the positions of the Azerbaijani Army in those regions with various
types of weapons, were intensive and systematic. At the same time,
Armenia’s increase in militarization along Azerbaijan’s borders,
deployment of heavy equipment and large-caliber weapons in the
region indicated that Armenia was preparing for a large-scale
military provocation.
At the same time, delaying the normalization process by Armenia
with various pretexts, showing a destructive position in the
negotiations conducted with international efforts, not withdrawing
the Armenian armed forces from the territory of Azerbaijan contrary
to the obligations within the framework of trilateral statements
and agreements, continuing planting landmines, including recently
produced in Armenia in the territory of Lachin, putting forward new
conditions and disrupting the process of opening of communications
and transport routes, as well as not responding to the peace agenda
demonstrated that Armenia is not interested in the peace process
and aims to undermine them.
The following aggression of the Armenian side against Azerbaijan is
a gross violation of the fundamental norms and principles of
international law, as well as the provisions of the trilateral
statements signed between the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and
the Russian Federation, and the agreements reached between
Azerbaijan and Armenia. These steps of Armenia are completely
contrary to the ongoing normalization and peace process. At the
time, when the Azerbaijan is carrying out large-scale restoration
and construction works in these territories liberated from
occupation, Armenia by allowing aggression once again demonstrates
that it is hindering this process by all means.
Responsibility for the provocation, clashes and losses lies with
the military-political leadership of Armenia. Any actions against
the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of
Azerbaijan will be resolutely prevented," reads the statement.