The Armenian Foreign Ministry issued a statement in connection with the provocation by Azerbaijan.

"On 7 March as a result of a gross violation of the ceasefire by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces on the western side of the Armenian border a serviceman of the Armenian Armed Forces, Sergeant Hrach Aram Manasaryan, was killed and another serviceman was wounded.

We express our deepest condolences and support to the family and relatives of the deceased and wish the wounded soldier a speedy recovery.

Although the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence denied that an Armenian soldier had been killed by their units, the official report of the 7 March meeting at the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry echoes the logic of the increasing aggressiveness of the Azerbaijani units.

While condemning the killing of the Armenian soldier, we consider it necessary to highlight that this and similar incidents, as well as the regular violations of the ceasefire, justify the necessity of withdrawing the troops from the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan and deployment of observer mission on the border.

We also find it important that Azerbaijan's provocative actions and statements are properly evaluated by the international community," the statement reads.