Armenian Sotk gold mine stops operations amid shooting

Late on Sunday evening (16 April), Armenian sources reported that the Sotk goldmine, which lies just within Armenian territory along the border with Azerbaijan, has stopped operations amid shooting.

The GeoProMining Gold company informed Armenian media of this, and early on Monday morning (17 April) the Armenian Ministry of Defence released a statement accusing Azerbaijan of having opened fire.

The statement read, "On April 16, at around 10:50 p.m., the units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces opened fire from different caliber firearms towards the Armenian combat positions located in the direction of Sotq. The Armenian side has no losses."

Azerbaijan denies responsibility

In response, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense released their own statement denying responsibility for the shooting. 

"The information spread by the Armenian Ministry of Defense that Azerbaijani army units allegedly opened fire in the Zod direction of the Basarkechar region is not true," the statement read.

Armenian authorities reported that, as of 10am Monday, the situation on the frontline is relatively stable.

source: commonspace.eu with agencies
photo: 168news