The Armenian Ministry of Defense has labeled Azerbaijan’s claims about artillery exchanges along the eastern edge of the Armenia–Azerbaijan border as misinformation. Armenian officials say the latest statements from Baku are part of a broader pattern of disinformation designed to shape international perception ahead of regional talks. Local authorities in Armenia have stressed that there were no Armenian attacks on Azerbaijani positions in the cited sectors during the reported hours and that the accusation does not align with available battlefield evidence or independent observer accounts.
In a formal briefing, the Armenian Ministry of Defense rejected the Azerbaijani note that asserted Armenian forces opened fire on Azerbaijani posts east of the border on the nights of March 8 and March 9. Officials said the claim is inconsistent with known troop movements, recent patrol logistics, and the absence of corroborating reports from monitoring missions. Armenia emphasized that it remains committed to transparency and to verifying events through appropriate international mechanisms rather than through unilateral claims.
On March 9, Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry released a statement stating that, between 21:30 on March 8 and 04:15 on March 9, Azerbaijani border units and forces in the Karabakh economic region were under Armenian action and that 23 shots were fired by Armenian armed forces. Azerbaijani authorities asserted that the incidents were monitored through their border defense channels and that the cross-border exchanges affected both sides’ positions along the de facto front lines. The Azerbaijani government also noted that the incidents occurred in a region with heightened tension as both sides continue to monitor developments in and around Nagorno-Karabakh.
A former Armenian foreign affairs official urged the international community to dispatch a mission to Nagorno-Karabakh to independently verify Azerbaijan’s claims about Armenian deployments in the region. The call for on-site verification reflects long-standing concerns about information reliability and the need for neutral, international observers to assess battlefield claims in real time. Supporters of this approach argue that an impartial mission could help reduce misinformation and support constructive dialogue on security arrangements that could prevent renewed clashes.
Analysts in the region emphasize that the exchange of accusations underscores the fragile security environment around Nagorno-Karabakh. They point out that both sides frequently issue rapid statements to influence international sentiment and to position themselves favorably before diplomatic discussions or external mediation efforts. Observers caution that without independent verification, such exchanges risk escalating tensions while complicating peace efforts. The international community has repeatedly called for restraint and verified reporting to prevent incidents from spiraling into broader confrontations.
In the wake of these developments, regional security experts advocate for increased transparency from both Armenia and Azerbaijan. They suggest that joint or third-party verification mechanisms, including on-the-ground observation and data-sharing protocols, could improve trust and reduce the likelihood of misinterpretation by local communities and international audiences. Given the complexity of the conflict’s history, credible information sharing remains a cornerstone of risk reduction and the path toward durable stability in the South Caucasus.
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