The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan has blamed the Armenian side for the death of an Azerbaijani soldier.

“On January 11 at noon, the Azerbaijan Army’s long-term active military serviceman, soldier Nazarov Ayaz Azer became Shehid (Martyr) as a result of provocation committed by the Armenian armed forces in the direction of the Kalbajar region of the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border. (…). As a result of relevant measures taken by the Azerbaijan Army Units, the opposing side was suppressed. The Armenian military-political leadership bears full responsibility for the occurred tension,” the Azerbaijani MOD noted in a statement, the country’s media reported.

The Armenian Ministry of Defense has not issued a response statement yet.