Azernews.Az

The Azerbaijani Armed Forces have detained two Armenian citizens, who crossed the contact line between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Defense Ministry said on Monday.

Resident of Doveh village in Noyemberyan region, Karian Durmush, was detained on March 16 and resident of Aygovid village of Ijevan region, Anaid Shamazasovna, on March 17 while crossing the contact line headed towards Azerbaijan's Gazakh region.

At present, the causes of the violations are being scrutinized. The detainees have been handed over to the State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France and the U.S. - are currently holding peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.