Armenia, Azerbaijan play blame game over violation of humanitarian ceasefire

Republic of Armenia and Republic of Azerbaijan continue to accuse each other of violating a recent humanitarian ceasefire in the disputed region of Karabakh.

According to Press TV, Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that Armenian troops had been shelling the Azeri territories of Goranboy, Terter, and Aghdam, “grossly violating the humanitarian truce.”

“Azeri armed forces are not violating the humanitarian ceasefire,” the Ministry’s Spokesman, Vagif Dargiahly, said.

But Armenian Defense Ministry Spokeswoman Shushan Stepanyan denied the accusation, saying Azeri forces had resumed operations after an overnight lull, “supported by active artillery fire in the southern, northern, northeastern, and eastern directions.”

The ministry of defense of the self-proclaimed Karabakh Republic also reported rocket and artillery attacks on its north, south, and northeast on Tuesday morning.

Ethnic Armenian officials in Karabakh said on Tuesday that their total military death toll had risen to 542.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General’s Office said 42 Azeri civilians had been killed and 206 injured since the eruption of the latest fighting. The country has not provided a military casualty toll.

Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but has an Armenian population. The latest fighting over the region began on September 27 and has claimed hundreds of lives. Each side blames the other for instigating the deadliest fighting since 1994.

A ceasefire was reached in the early hours of Saturday between the two sides during talks in Russia.

SS