In this Nov 27, 2020 photo, Armenian soldiers patrol a road outside the village of Berdashen at the ceasefire line drawn between Armenia and Azerbaijan after six weeks of fighting over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. (KAREN MINASYAN / AFP)
YEREVAN – The Armenian Defense Ministry said Thursday that six Armenian servicemen were taken captive by Azerbaijani troops near the border.
The incident occurred amid a mounting tension on the southern border between Armenia and Azerbaijan recently
The ministry said in a statement on its website that the Azerbaijan armed forces surrounded and captured the Armenian soldiers on early Thursday morning when they were carrying out engineering works in Gegharkunik province bordering Azerbaijan.
"Necessary measures are being taken to return the captured servicemen," said the defense ministry.
Meanwhile, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry confirmed in a statement that they have arrested six Armenian servicemen, while accusing the Armenian soldiers of attempting to enter Azerbaijan's territory in the direction of Yukhari Ayrim of the Kalbajar region near the border on Thursday.
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The incident occurred amid a mounting tension on the southern border between Armenia and Azerbaijan recently.
Earlier this month, Armenia accused Azerbaijani troops of crossing the southern border and advancing more than three km into Armenia's Syunik region, which the Azerbaijani side had denied.
Both countries said they will try to resolve the dispute by peaceful negotiations.