Armenian PM Accuses Azeri Forces of Breaching Border, Sacks Defense Minister
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says he sacked Defense Minister Arshak Karapetian because of Azerbaijan's forces' violation of the border, adding that high officials have been discussing this development since Sunday evening.
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Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan
Russia's Interfax news agency reported that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan accused Azerbaijan's troops on Monday of violating the border between the two countries and sacked his Defense Minister.
Pashinyan did not say when the incursion took place but told a National Security Council meeting that he fired the Defense Minister over the incident and that senior officials have been discussing it since Sunday.
The Armenian President had announced in July that he will request the deployment of Russian forces along the border with Azerbaijan, in order to prevent further escalation after repeated border clashes.
At the time, Pashinyan said in a cabinet meeting that he intends to ask Moscow for additional backup.
Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry had accused Armenia of violating the cease-fire on the border by opening fire on its units in the Kalbajar region, northwest of Nagorno-Karabakh.
