On December 4, the Armenian Defense Ministry reported that at approximately 2:35 PM [local time], the Azerbaijani armed forces discharged fire against the Armenian combat position in Bardzruni, Vayots Dzor Province. Consequently, a serviceman of the N military unit of MoD of the Republic of Armenia, Gerasim Avetik Arakelyan, sustained a fatal gunshot wound.

An investigation is currently underway to comprehensively elucidate the circumstances surrounding the incident. 

Moreover, the Armenian Foreign Ministry noted that by such provocations on the border, as well as by continuously rejecting the offers of various international actors to continue the negotiations, the Azerbaijani side is trying to delay and deadlock the peace process. "We strongly condemn these actions of the Azerbaijani side aimed at provoking a new escalation, delaying and leading the peace process into a deadlock," the report noted.

On the same day, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry noted that information disseminated by the Armenian Defense Ministry that the Azerbaijan Army Units allegedly opened fire on the positions of the Armenian armed forces in the direction of the Sultanbay settlement of Pashali region, as a result of which one serviceman was killed, is not true and completely false. 

Furthermore, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry rejected the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia.

"This false statement by the Armenian side is intended to cover up the arbitrariness and abuse of the armed forces. The Armenian side, delaying the proposals on the peace agreement for more than 70 days, is now harming the prospects of the normalization process with such disruptive statements," the report noted.

"With such statements, the Armenian side aims to create artificial tension in the border regions and attract the attention of third countries. For its part, Azerbaijan will continue peace and reconstruction efforts in the post-conflict phase and will resolutely prevent any steps directed against this process," the information added.