Clashes occur between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces near the Nakhchivan border 

On 20 July, the Armenian and Azerbaijani troops exchanged fire in the vicinity of the Armenian village of Yeraskh and the Azerbaijani village of Heydarabad with two people injured from both sides.  

“In the evening of July 19, starting from 18:40, the Azerbaijani armed forces shelled the Armenian positions located in the Yeraskh section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border for several hours with the use of various calibre firearms. Mortars were also used regularly,” read the statement of the Armenian Ministry of Defence (MOD). “As of 23:00, the situation remains tense. The MOD of Armenia warns again that any border provocation will receive a tough response, and the whole responsibility for the escalation of the situation falls on the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan,” the statement added. It was also reported on the same day that the country’s acting Defence Minister Vagharshak Harutyunyan submitted his resignation from the post without providing details and reasons.   

“On  19 July at about 23:40, the Armenian armed forces’ units from the positions near the Arazdeyen village of the Vedi region using various calibre weapons [aimed towards the] positions of the Azerbaijan Army in the direction of the Heydarabad settlement in the Sadarak region of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic,” read the statement of the Azerbaijani MOD. “The enemy was suppressed by retaliation fire. Currently, the situation in this direction is stable, our units control the operational situation,” it added.

The EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, Toivo Klaar, also commented on the current situation on the border between the two countries. “Deeply worrying developments continue on Armenia–Azerbaijan state border. We reiterate our call for restraint and separation of forces and constructive engagement on border issues before new casualties are registered. EU stands ready to assist the sides,” he stated.