The latest ceasefire violation reports have seen significant changes. For two weeks now, since 23 July, Azeri military authorities no longer report numbers, stating in reports that the line-of-contact is relatively calm. A translation of the exact statement released by Azerbaijan’s Defence ministry since 23 June is the following:
Throughout the day, a relative calm along the line-of-contact between Armenian and Azeri troops was registered. The ceasefire regime was violated by periodic shots in different areas of the frontline.
Monthly ceasefire violation reports recorded by the Azerbaijani side
Note: official data for the month of June is incomplete, subsequently, numeric data has not been published
Source: Azerbaijan Defence Ministry
While numbers are no longer provided by Azerbaijan, the Armenian defence authorities in Stepanakert released the third lowest number of registered ceasefire violations this year (the lowest was during the second week of May with 80 recorded violation cases, and second lowest just two weeks ago with 90 ); this past week, 100 ceasefire violations were recorded, with a approximate projectile count of 750. If calculated as average shots per day, this past week experienced the third lowest number of shots by Azeri troops on the frontline, with an average of 107 shots per day.
Official reports from both sides have hinted at engineering works carried out along the line-of-contact between Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh, as well as the internationally recognised border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The renovation works seek to strengthen the position of each side in their respective areas of control.
This sudden lack of numbers from the Azeri side, and low ceasefire violation recordings by the Armenian side started right after the meeting between the foreign minister Elmar Mamedyarov and his Armenian counterpart, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, in Washington under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk group on 20 July. A statement by the OSCE Minsk group highlighted the following:
“Noting with regret recent casualties, the Co-Chairs urged the sides to take immediate measures to restore an atmosphere conducive to peace and favourable to substantive talks. They called on the sides to reaffirm their commitment to observe the ceasefire strictly and to refrain from any provocative action, including the use of snipers and engineering works along the line of contact and the international border.”
Monthly ceasefire violation reports recorded by the Armenian side in Nagorno Karabakh
Numbers are approximate, only the first week of July is currently available.
Source: Nagorno Karabakh Defence Ministry
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