Nagorno-Karabakh: Azerbaijan, Armenia trade accusations of violating third ceasefire
- New fighting erupted hours after both sides agreed to a US-brokered ceasefire
- Russia brokered two ceasefire agreements earlier this month, but both frayed
Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other of violating a new ceasefire to halt fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh shortly after it had been due to take effect on Monday.
Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry said Armenian forces had shelled the town of Terter and nearby villages in “gross violation” of the truce, which was announced by Washington on Sunday and was due to start at 8am local time.
Armenia’s defence ministry said Azerbaijani forces had “grossly violated” the ceasefire with artillery fire on combat positions in various parts of the frontline.
Armenian President Nikol Pashinyan insisted on Facebook that his country “continues to strictly adhere to the ceasefire regime”.
“The Azerbaijani side crudely violated a humanitarian ceasefire deal for a third time,” said Vahram Poghosyan, a spokesman for the Karabakh separatist leader.
“Our task today is to defend our homeland … We’ve been left with no choice,” he wrote on social media.