Oppositionist demands clarity on alleged Sotk shooting

PanARMENIAN.Net - Oppositionist Edmon Marukyan has demanded a clear answer from Armenia’s Ministry of Defense regarding reports that Azerbaijani forces fired on Armenian positions near Sotk overnight.

Posting on his Facebook page, the head of the Bright Armenia party wrote: “Did the Azerbaijani side open fire on us in the Sotk area last night or not? There are reports online that intense fire was directed towards Sotk during the night.”

The Ministry of Defense has urged the public to refrain from spreading inaccurate, false, or fabricated information concerning the army and border developments, advising people to rely on official updates.

Marukyan responded: “Fine, we’ll follow official information. But you are simply obliged to answer one clear question: did the Azerbaijani side open fire on us in the Sotk area last night or not?”

He criticized the ministry’s approach, saying there should be no manipulation using phrases like “in cases of intensive and significant ceasefire violations, the MoD issues official statements.”

“What are we implying? That they fired, but not intensively? That the ceasefire was breached, but not significantly?” Marukyan added.

He suggested that the government may be avoiding direct answers out of fear that such admissions would shatter the “peace narrative” and reveal the true weight and impact of the so-called “international greetings.”

Since March 16, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense has issued multiple false claims alleging gunfire from the Armenian side. Armenia’s Defense Ministry has consistently denied these accusations, and the EU monitoring mission has also refuted Baku’s disinformation.