Updated report on Armenian-Azerbaijani border incidents and official responses
The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense has presented statements asserting that Armenian forces opened fire on Azerbaijani positions. The Armenian Ministry of Defense press service has countered these claims, saying the reports do not reflect what actually occurred. The exchange highlights how competing narratives can shape public perception during border tensions.
According to the Armenian account, there was an assertion that Armenian Armed Forces units fired on Azerbaijani positions in the eastern segment of the border around 12:45 on February 24. The same briefing claimed that Azerbaijan retaliated by firing on Armenian positions in the Verin Shorzha region at approximately 12:30 on the same day. These timestamps illustrate how swiftly both sides respond to alleged incidents, and they underscores the ongoing tension along the frontier.
On February 23, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement in response to comments by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who had suggested that Baku was preparing to attack Armenia. The Azerbaijani discourse framed these remarks as unfounded warnings and emphasized calls for restraint amid regional friction. This exchange underlines the sensitive political climate surrounding any potential military moves on the border.
Earlier remarks attributed to public figures within Armenia indicated that a “new attack” by Azerbaijan against Armenia remained “very likely.” Such claims contribute to a climate of heightened alert and influence regional risk assessments, even as authorities in both capitals seek to manage the situation through diplomacy and official rhetoric.
In related commentary, the first deputy chairman of the State Duma CIS Affairs Committee, Konstantin Zatulin, remarked that Armenia’s decision to freeze its participation in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) could be read as a move toward exiting the alliance. This interpretation adds a layer of international dimension to the border dispute, reflecting how shifts in alliance dynamics are perceived by observers outside the immediate theater of conflict.
Previously, Armenian leaders indicated that the prospect of peace with Azerbaijan had become extremely difficult to sustain. This sentiment echoes the broader difficulties in achieving durable coexistence in the region and suggests that both sides face structural challenges that go beyond any single incident. The ongoing discourse emphasizes the need for careful diplomacy, verified information, and confidence-building measures to reduce the risk of miscalculation during periods of acute tension.