Azerbaijani civilian killed by Armenian landmine blast

By Ruslan Rehimov

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AA) – An Azerbaijani civilian has succumbed to wounds he sustained from an explosion caused by an Armenian landmine, according to a local authority on Friday.

The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement that Zabil Babayev stepped on a mine in Fuzuli province which was liberated from Armenian occupation.

An investigation has been launched into the incident and the public has been warned against entering liberated areas until the region is cleared of mines.

Mines planted by Armenian forces have claimed the lives of numerous Azerbaijani civilians and soldiers.

- Liberation of Karabakh

Relations between the former Soviet republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, internationally recognized as an Azerbaijani territory, and seven adjacent regions.

When new clashes erupted on Sept. 27, the Armenian army launched attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces and violated several humanitarian cease-fire agreements.

During the 44-day conflict, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages from the nearly three-decade-long occupation.

Despite the deal ending the conflict, the Armenian army several times violated the agreement and martyred several Azerbaijani soldiers and a civilian, as well as wounded few people, according to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

*Writing by Sena Guler