Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry press secretary Hikmet Hajiyev has accused Armenia of the ongoing escalation of tensions in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict zone.

"Despite the decision made by the Azerbaijani side on April 3 to unilaterally halt the counteroffensive and the countermeasures taken against the enemy, the Armenian Armed Forces continued intensive shelling of populated localities and the civilian population by use of artillery and other heavy weapons and carried on their offensive and provocative actions along the entire frontline, especially in the Terter and Agdara districts," Hajiyev said.

If the Armenian Armed Forces continue to shell Azerbaijani populated localities, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces will have to take countermeasures for providing security of the population in the Armenian-Azerbaijani front zone and Armenia will be fully responsible for that, the Foreign Ministry press secretary said.