A 39-year-old Armenian soldier was killed by a sniper bullet at a military post in the Armenian town of Yeraskh, the Armenian Defense Ministry said.

The incident took place at about 11:10 on September 1 "due to the firing on Armenian positions in the Ararat region of Armenia by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces with various types of firearms and sniper rifles." As a result, "junior sergeant Gegham Sahakyan, who was serving in the military on a contract basis, was killed," the statement said.

The Armenian Defense Ministry said that all the responsibility fell on "Azerbaijan's military-political leadership."

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has denied the allegations, saying they are a "provocation."

"We state that the information spread in the Armenian media today (on September 1) about the death of an Armenian serviceman as a result of a sniper rifle fired by the Azerbaijani Army is also false and provocative. No shots were fired by Azerbaijani Army units in this area today (on September 1)," Azerbaijani officials said. The statement came from the Interior Ministry.

Yeraskh settlement is located on the border between Armenia and Nakhchivan. Shootings have been reported in the direction of Nakhchivan on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border for several months. The sides have accused each other of violating the ceasefire.