Armenian serviceman wounded in shootout provoked by Azerbaijan

PanARMENIAN.Net - One Armenian serviceman was wounded in shootout with the Azerbaijani military in the province of Gegharkunik, Colonel Samvel Asatryan, Head of the Information Department of the Army General Staff, said on Tuesday, July 6.

Asatryan said Azerbaijan provoked a shootout, during which a soldier from the Armenian side was slightly injured. According to him, two Azeri troops were wounded too, Armenpress reports.

CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas earlier described the Azerbaijani military's incursion into Armenia as a "border incident" which he said does not fall under the provisions of the CSTO charter on collective defense.

The Collective Security Treaty Organization is a military alliance in Eurasia, of which Armenia is a member. The CSTO was contacted days after the Azerbaijani forces violated Armenia’s border in several sections in the provinces of Syunik and Gegharkunik on May 12 and 13. The Azeri military is still refusing to withdraw their troops from the area. One Armenian serviceman was killed in Azerbaijan’s shooting on May 25, six troops were captured on May 27, although four of them have already returned home.