Artsakh president announces partial military mobilization

YEREVAN, August 3. /ARKA/. Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) President Araik Harutyunyan has signed a decree today declaring a partial military mobilization.

The decree comes after heavy fighting that started today morning along the line of contact between Armenian forces of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijani troops.

According to Artsakh's Defense Ministry, two contract servicemen have been killed in the fighting and 14 others wounded.

It said starting from 09:00 August 3, the Azerbaijani units, having grossly violated the ceasefire, shelled the combat positions of the Defense Army, using mortars, grenade launchers and UAV in addition to multi-caliber small arms.

As a result two contract servicemen - Guren Gabrielyan and Artur Khachatryan - were fatally wounded. Together with the command of the Russian peacekeeping brigade in Artsakh measures are being taken to stabilize the situation, the ministry said.

As of 18:00, the tactical situation along the line of contact was relatively stable, it said later. 

On Monday, the Artsakh Defense Army had prevented an attempt by Azerbaijani forces to cross the line of contact from the north and northwest. 

On Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said it had recorded three violations of the ceasefire by Azerbaijani forces within a 24-hour period. 

The Artsakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs strictly condemned in a statement the new round of Azerbaijan’s aggressive actions qualifying it as another manifestation of Armenophobia, an attempt to violate peace and stability in the region, as well as discredit the peacekeeping mission.

It called on the international community to assess the actions of Azerbaijan and take appropriate steps to restrain Baku's destructive policy.

"Artsakh Armenians are unwavering and determined to live free and independent on their land and overcome all difficulties with dignity," the statement stresses. -0--