YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia  has issued a statement strongly condemning Azerbaijani actions aimed at provoking a new escalation, delaying the peace process and bringing it to a deadlock.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry noted that the Azerbaijani side, through provocative actions on the border and rejections of proposals constantly made by various international actors to continue negotiations, tries to impede the peace process and lead it into a deadlock.

"We strongly condemn these actions of the Azerbaijani side aimed at inciting a new escalation, delaying the peace process and bringing it to a deadlock," reads the statement.

On December 4, around 2:35 p.m., the Azerbaijani armed forces opened fire at the Armenian combat position in Bardzruni village of Armenia’s Vayots Dzor Province.

As a result of the Azeri provocation, Armenian military unit serviceman Gerasim Arakelyan received a fatal gunshot wound from a shot fired by the enemy sniper.