Lieutenant General Jalal Harutyunyan has been relieved of the post of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Defense Minister/Commander of the Defense Army. President Arayik Harutyunyan said Tuesday, October 27 that Harutyunyan sustained an injury in the battlefield recently, adding that the decision to replace him should not be a reason for comments.

Also Tuesday, the Karabakh leader said he has appointed Major General Mikayel Arzumanyan as Minister of Defense/Commander of the Defense Army, promoting him to the rank of Lieutenant General.

"I wish Jalal Harutyunyan a speedy recovery, I am sure he will return to service very soon," President Harutyunyan said.

Karabakh presidential spokesman Vahram Poghosyan said Tuesday that Harutyunyan is out of danger, the wound he received in a combat position is fortunately not a serious one.

Azerbaijan, with help from Turkey and Syrian and Libyan mercenaries deployed by Ankara, started a war against Karabakh (Artsakh) in the morning of September 27. The Armenian side has reported deaths and injuries both among the civilian population and the military. Foreign and local journalists too have been injured in Azeri shelling of towns and villages.