STEPANAKERT.  – The Ministry of Defense of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic dismisses Azerbaijani media reports about alleged involvement in the death of Azerbaijani officer on January 27.

“The reports about involvement of the Karabakh armed forces in the death of Azerbaijani officer on January 27 are untrue. Karabakh armed forces are committed to respecting ceasefire regime. Let them look causes of the death in themselves and the events happening on the night of January 20,” spokesperson for NKR Defense Ministry Senor Hasratyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The diversionary teams of Azerbaijan had attempted to carry out two simultaneous infiltrations at the line of contact between the Karabakh-Azerbaijani opposing forces on January 20. As a result of the ensuing skirmish, however, Junior Sergeant Armen Hovhannisyan was killed.