The Azerbaijani side is actively firing at a number of communities in Artsakh

On March 9, the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Artsakh reported that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces are actively firing at the administrative territories and roads of the Khramort and Nakhichevanik communities of the Askeran district of Artsakh, Khnushinak and Karmir Shuka communities of the Martuni district of Artsakh with weapons of various calibers, suspending all types of agricultural work, preventing the free movement of residents. During the day, threats to "leave the territory" were repeated over the loudspeaker from the Azerbaijani posts located next to the Khramort community. 

Earlier the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia reported that on March 9 at around 13:10, units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces opened fire on Armenian combat positions located on the western section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The enemy's fire was suppressed by retaliatory actions of the Armenian side. As of 15:00, the situation on this section of the border is relatively stable. 

Artsakh Defense Army reported that on March 9, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan has spread a message that units of the Artsakh Defense Army allegedly fired in the direction of Azerbaijani combat positions. This statement has nothing to do with reality. The Artsakh Defense Army not only did not open fire on Azerbaijani positions, but, as we have already mentioned earlier, on March 7 and 8, Azerbaijani Armed Forces fired 2-3 times in the direction of the village of Khramort.

Earlier the Artsakh Defense Army reported that on March 9, at around 13:00-14:00, in positions located in the direction of the village of Khnushinak in the Martuni district of the Republic of Artsakh, the Azerbaijani side violated the ceasefire regime, Artsakh Defense Army reports. There are no casualties on the Armenian side. 

On March 8, at around 23:00, the enemy once again violated the ceasefire regime in the area of the village of Khramort in the Askeran district of the Republic of Artsakh, Artsakh Defense Army reports. The violation of the ceasefire was reported to the command of the Russian peacekeeping contingent.

Everything being done to restore gas supply in Artsakh – Foreign Minister

Azerbaijan has not changed its approaches, has not revised its plans and regularly resorts and will resort to provocations, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh Davit Babayan said in an interview to ARMENPRESS, commenting on the latest Azerbaijani ceasefire violation in Artsakh, as well as on the fact that Azerbaijan obstructs the repair works of a damaged gas pipeline.

"Nothing extraordinary is taking place. Azerbaijan remained the same, its goals as well. We need to be ready for that and, let me tell you, we are ready," the minister said.

As for the Azerbaijani obstruction of the repair works of the gas pipeline, the minister said everything is being done to restore the gas supply. "Artsakh is still without gas supply," the FM said.

The sappers of the State Service of Emergency Situations of the Artsakh Ministry of Interior launched the demining work in the morning of March 9 in the area of the damaged pipeline in the Azerbaijani-controlled Shushi-Lisagor-Berdzor section, the Head of the Information Department of the State Service of Emergency Situations Hunan Tadevosyan told ARMENPRESS.

"It seems that the negotiations with the Russian peacekeepers gave results and now the deminers are on site to carry out the demining work," Tadevosyan added.

He said the repair of the pipeline will start only after the demining is completed.

The main pipeline supplying natural gas from Armenia to Artsakh was damaged due to a malfunction at 01:00, March 8. The damaged section is near an Azerbaijani military position. The Azerbaijani military was obstructing repair works and negotiations in mediation of the Russian peacekeepers were underway.

On March 8, at 01:00, the main gas pipeline of Artsakh has been damaged due to a malfunction. Later the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Artsakh reported that the Azerbaijani side is obstructing the repair work of the pipeline. "The pipeline supplying has from Armenia to Artsakh has been damaged. The incident happened near an Azerbaijani military position. The Azerbaijani side is obstructing the launch of repair works. Negotiations are underway with the mediation of the Russian peacekeeping mission for starting the works tomorrow," the ministry said in a statement.

On March 8, at around 23:00, the Azerbaijani forces once again violated the ceasefire, by firing three 60mm mortar shells in the direction of Khramort village of Askeran region.

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