US Congressman Brad Sherman released a statement regarding the killing of an Armenian soldier, Armen Hovannisyan, by Azerbaijani forces along the Line of Contact with Nagorno-Karabakh.

“Just four days before a meeting scheduled between Azerbaijan’s and Armenia’s Foreign Ministers to discuss a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Azerbaijan and the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azeri forces have tragically killed yet another Armenian soldier in an unprovoked attack on the Artsakh [i.e., Nagorno-Karabakh] and Azerbaijan border.

“As I stated last December when an Armenian soldier was killed, Azerbaijan continues to show that it is not serious about establishing peaceful relations with Artsakh and repeatedly creates obstacles to the peace process.

“Azerbaijan and its forces must be held accountable for these ruthless displays of violence. I have been a longtime advocate for a peaceful resolution of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Karabakh and the recognition of the independent Republic of Karabakh,” Congressman Sherman’s statement reads.

The diversionary teams of Azerbaijan had attempted to carry out two simultaneous infiltrations at the line of contact between the Karabakh-Azerbaijani opposing forces. The attempts were recorded at around between 11:50pm on January 19 and 12:15am on January 20. As a result of the ensuing skirmish, Junior Sergeant Armen Hovhannisyan was killed at a military position, and from the gunshot wound he had sustained from the adversary.  

The funeral of the 19-year-old sergeant was held on Wednesday, and he was laid to eternal rest at Yerablur Military Pantheon of Armenian capital city Yerevan.