Azeris Fire at Red Cross Convoy in Chinari Village

CHINARI, Armenia—A convoy carrying Armenian representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross was fired on by Azerbaijani snipers Monday. No report on damages was released.

The spokeswoman for the Red Cross Armenia office Zara Amatouni told RFE/RL that the organization’s aid workers were in the Chinari village in the Tavush region of Armenia at the request of the villagers who had asked for the Red Cross’ presence during the summer harvest season.

The Red Cross used its mandate to secure an agreement from the sides to not violate the cease fire during the summer harvest. Nevertheless, according to the Chinari village administrator, Samvel Saghoyan, at three minutes before 7 p.m. shots were fired from the Azeri direction.

The villagers had borrowed farming equipment from the neighboring Movses village to facilitate the summer harvest with the Red Cross officials on site.

Saghoyan told Aysor.am that the Red Cross vehicle was shot at breaking its side mirror and tearing the Red Cross flag.

Armenia’s Defense Ministry announced on Monday that Armenian border troops did not fire until the Azerbaijani snipers shot at border village directions.

Defense Ministry spokesperson Artsrun Hovhannisyan told reporters that the ministry always provides added supports to border villages at the time of the harvest, explaining that Azerbaijan intensifies its sniper attacks during the season.

Villagers reported that Azerbaijan intensifies its attack during harvest season in order to destroy the crops, which are the only source of income for the population on the border.

Another Karabakh Soldier Killed
The Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Ministry announced Saturday that 20-year-old Khachatur Badasian was killed after Azerbaijani force attempted to enter the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Despite the death, the Azerbaijani forces were driven back to their posts.

Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President Bako Sahakian on Monday posthumously awarded Badasian a medal of courage.