Azerbaijan's actions continue to harm the cause of peace: Brad Sherman

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA) released a statement on the unprovoked killing of an Armenian soldier, Hrant Poghosyan, by Azerbaijani forces along the border of Nagorno-Karabakh.

As reports “Armenpress” citing the Press Service of the Congressman, in particular the statement runs as follows:

“Azerbaijan has yet again shown that it is not serious about establishing peaceful relations with Armenia and Artsakh. Despite the request for a ceasefire during the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Azeri forces have killed an Armenian solider, Hrant Poghosyan. The shooting was unprovoked and Armenian forces have respected the request for a ceasefire.

Azerbaijan’s actions continue to harm the cause of peace. Last year, Azerbaijan celebrated a murderer, Ramil Safarov, who violently killed an Armenian soldier during a NATO Partnership for Peace exercise. Azerbaijan and its forces must be held accountable for this latest display of violence towards Armenia and lack of respect for the OSCE’s settlement negotiations. I will continue to stand by Artsakh and Armenia in their ongoing quest for peace and security.”

Previously it was reported that Representative Adam Schiff released a statement on Tuesday after the Armenian Government disclosed that Azerbaijani troops had killed an Armenian soldier, Hrant Poghosyan, along the border of Nagorno-Karabakh.

As reports “Armenpress” citing the Press Service of the Congressman, in particular the statement runs as follows: “Today, we have learned of the murder of yet another Armenian soldier along the line of contact in an unprovoked attack by Azerbaijani troops against Armenian forces. Azerbaijan and its military must be held to account and there can be no denying that this savagery is being orchestrated at the highest levels of the Azeri security establishment.

One need only look at the sick display of adulation that greeted Ramil Safarov — the Azerbaijani military officer who beheaded an Armenian colleague during a NATO Partnership for Peace exercise — to see how the Azeri government has glorified this violence. Rather than prison, Safarov was paraded through the streets and given a new house and a promotion. Baku’s newest murderer will not be brought to justice until the international community insists on an end to these atrocities.”

The rival’s bullet killed an Armenian soldier serving his duty on the frontline of the Tavush Province, Republic of Armenia. The Press Secretary of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia Artzrun Hovhannisyan informed "Armenpress" that a military serviceman was killed on Sunday at 5 pm, at the defensive positions of the Movses village nearby the City of Berd in Armenia as a result of the ceasefire regime violation by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.

The deceased soldier was Hrant Poghosyan, who was a resident of Berd. Poghosyan was born in 1987.