Armenia accuses Azerbaijan of kidnapping soldiers in latest clash

Armenia's military said on Wednesday that Azeri soldiers captured and imprisoned several of its troops when both sides collided on Sunday for the first time since the Nov. 10 ceasefire came into effect.

An Azeri service member looks at the ancient Khodaafarin Bridge near the border with Iran in the area, which came under the control of Azerbaijan's troops following a military conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh against ethnic Armenian forces and a further signing of a ceasefire deal in Jabrayil district [Aziz Karimov/Reuters]

The Republic of Nagorno-Karabak, a self-declared republic governed by ethnic Armenian separatists backed by the Armenian government, made the allegation when it lost contact with several Armenian military posts overseeing sections of the formerly disputed region Armenia was given control of as part of the Russian-brokered deal.

It's believed the soldiers guarding the posts were captured by Azeri troops when a skirmish, that resulted in the death of four Azeri servicemen and six injuries from the Armenian side, broke out on Tuesday between both sides.

Russian peacekeeping forces had to get involved to subdue the fighting and escort the encircled Armenian troops back to their side of the region, according to Armenia's defence ministry.

Nagorno-Karabakh's ministry said they carried out overnight search and rescue efforts and were not able to find their servicemen. They are calling the latest violation of the fourth ceasefire since fighting erupted at the end of September, a "provocation."

"Several dozen servicemen were taken hostage by Azeri forces in the direction of Ktsaberd village, and the defence ministry is currently trying to figure out all the circumstances,” Arayik Harutyunyan, the regional head of the Armenian half of Nagorno-Karabakh, said in a pre-written speech posted on his Facebook page.

Azerbaijan's military has remained silent since the recent clashes took place.

By: Niza Nondo