Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Escalates As Azeribaijan Forces Violate Ceasefire

Azerbaijani forces have violated the ceasefire in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh early on Tuesday by shelling border positions.

YEREVAN (Sputnik) — Azerbaijani forces have violated the ceasefire in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh early on Tuesday by shelling enemy positions, the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic's (NKR) Defense Ministry said.

"Early on May 3, the enemy has violated the ceasefire agreement and used various firearms and 82mm mortars to fire along the line of contact between Karabakh and Azerbaijani forces," the ministry said in a statement.

Front units of the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army are in control of the situation and continue to carry out their combat duty, the ministry added.

The violence in Nagorno-Karabakh escalated on April 2. Baku and Yerevan have accused each other of provoking hostilities that led to multiple deaths on each side. The sides agreed to a ceasefire on April 5, but clashes have continued.

The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988, when the autonomous region sought to secede from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic, before proclaiming independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The warring sides agreed to a cessation of hostilities in 1994.