Azerbaijan: Further cross-border clashes reported in Tovuz region July 13 /update 1

Event

The Azerbaijan Ministry of Defense has stated that at least one soldier was killed amid continued cross-border artillery fire by Armenian forces which targeted Azeri positions in the Tovuz region on Monday, July 13. The Armenian government has stated that Azeri forces had shelled Armenian positions on Monday morning. At least four Azeri troops have been killed and five others wounded, in addition to two Armenian troops being wounded since clashes in the area began on Sunday, July 12, with both sides accusing the other of violating the current ceasefire.

Context

Azerbaijan and neighboring Armenia have a long-standing dispute over the possession of Nagorno-Karabakh, home to some 150,000 inhabitants (mostly ethnic Armenians) and located in the west of Azerbaijan. This issue has fueled tensions between the two countries since 1988; some 30,000 people were killed in fighting from 1990 to 1994. The two countries declared another ceasefire in April 2016 after the region experienced four days of violent clashes that left hundreds dead. Tensions between the two countries remain high.

Advice

Western governments generally advise their citizens against all travel to Nagorno-Karabakh and the Azerbaijan-Armenia border. Those in Azerbaijan are advised to monitor developments to the situation, and adhere to instructions issued by local authorities and their home governments.