NKR military make a statement and issue a list of killed soldiers

Military officials of Nagorno Karabakh have issued the list of the soldiers who heroically died in attack committed by the Azerbaijani armed diversionary group which tried to invade into territory of Nagorno Karabakh on June 18.

The killed Armenian soldiers are: Sergeant Mnatsakan R. Gasparian, Soldiers Araik S. Barseghian, Edward S. Manoukian and Parouir A. Melkonian.

The wounded four soldiers are: Lance Sergeant Garik Y. Matevosian, Soldiers Galoust G. Badasian, Andranik V. Arzoumanian, and Haroutyun V. Mesropian.

The Armenian military said the invasion of the Azerbaijani armed group occurred on June 18 at about 11:30 pm near Chaylu village. Azerbaijani diversionists passed the border in the north-eastern part of the connect zone between the Azerbaijani and Nagorno Karabakh forces.

The military of Nagorno Karabakh faced diversionists and stopped their further invasion. In the fight that took place between the two forces, an Azerbaijani soldier was killed. Leaving his body and ammunition Azerbaijani diversionists run from the field.

This attack was condemned by Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian. “This attack by Azerbaijani side is a provocation which can’t be left without condemnation,” said President Sargsyan in particularly.

“Being unpunished, I am not saying – with no response, the war threats, statements, and provocations can always cause such kind of consequences, or even worse ones,” said Sargsyan.

Armenian Foreign Minister, in his turn, said: “Actually, it appears as if Azerbaijani leadership hadn’t yet left the negotiations room, when it organised a diversionary operation late on June 18 in the Mardakert region of Nagorno Karabakh. It’s an Azerbaijani handwriting to attack under cover of night. It’s obvious, that the attack has been planned in good time. This once again shows the real face of Baku, which is doing its best to disturb the negotiations.”

Note that in addition to previous regular attacks, another serious incident on the connecting zone between the two sides which are in war at the hand of Azerbaijan, occurred on the day following trilateral meeting. The meeting was initiated by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. During the meeting, Azerbaijani leader Aliev said is ready to continue the peaceful settlement to the conflict.

Meanwhile military of Nagorno Karabakh said that cases of violation of cease-fire and diversionary attacks have been committing more regularly.

“Announcing these frequent diversionary attacks and cases of violation of cease-fire, military forces of Nagorno Karabakh consider it to be necessary to make the following statement: through these actions, the Azerbaijani side is purposefully and regularly trying to destabilize the situation in the connecting zone and, thus, intends to disturb the fragile peace in the region.

“Defense Forces of Nagorno Karabakh give a warning to Baku that any attacks and actions which put in danger the security of NKR and which aim at disruption of the connecting zone will be adequately responded,” said in the issued statement by NKR military.