Azerbaijani soldier martyred in Karabakh border clash

An Azerbaijani soldier has been martyred in clashes with Armenian troops at occupied Karabakh, Azerbaijani Defense Ministry announced Friday.

According to the ministry's statement, ethnic Armenian troops shot dead the Azerbaijani solder on the frontline between Azerbaijan and occupied Karabakh, which was taken over by Armenian militias in 1993.

Previously, the ministry accused Armenian forces of violating a cease-fire set up last month after an escalation in clashes.

Occupied Karabakh is recognized as Azerbaijani territory by the international community but it was taken over by Armenian secessionists when the Soviet Union broke up in the late 1980s.

Despite a 1994 peace deal, border skirmishes are a frequent occurrence. At the beginning of last month, these escalated into the worst outbreak of fighting since the war, resulting in the deaths of more than 270 military personnel.