N-K authorities reported soldier killed in clash with Azerbaijani forces 8 Dec; reported another soldier killed 21 Dec on front-line. Azerbaijan and Armenia accused each other of hundreds of ceasefire violations during month. Armenian defence ministry accused Azerbaijan of sabotage and infiltration attempt on contact line 25 Dec; Azerbaijan denied. Azerbaijani military claimed to have foiled infiltration attempt 26 Dec and taken Armenian soldier hostage; N-K authorities denied. Outgoing U.S. ambassador to Armenia reiterated only way to resolve N-K conflict is through talks; Collective Security Treaty Organisation Sec Gen also said conflict can only be resolved peacefully. Bonn International Center for Conversation’s Global Militarization Index 2014 showed Armenia third most militarised country in world, Azerbaijan tenth.

Azerbaijan mid-Nov said airspace over NK closed after forces shot down Armenian helicopter when it reportedly “attempted to open fire”; Armenia said helicopter belonged to NK authorities, who 22 Nov said forces killed two Azerbaijani soldiers in operation to recover bodies of three crew members killed in the downing. Armenia defence minister Seiran Ohanian 22 Nov said Armenia will retaliate against “any provocation by Azerbaijan from now on”.

Two reportedly killed in clashes along front line 1, 9 Oct. Body of Armenian citizen Karen Petrosyan handed over by Azerbaijan authorities 10 Oct after ICRC mediation. Trial of two Azerbaijani citizens charged with murder, espionage, illegal border crossing, weapons possession began 27 Oct in NK. German FM Frank-Walter Steinmeier 23 Oct visited Baku, called for end to NK conflict. French President Hollande 27 Oct hosted talks in Paris between President Sarkisian and President Aliyev; Armenian FM Nalbandian 28 Oct said talks constructive, leaders discussed issues related to NK conflict including confidence building measures.

Mediation efforts continued: U.S. Sec State John Kerry 5 Sept convened meeting with Armenian President Sarkisian and Azerbaijani President Aliyev on sidelines of NATO summit; both presidents stressed importance of peace agreement; French ambassador to Azerbaijan 9 Sept announced tripartite talks between France, Armenia and Azerbaijan to be held in Paris in Nov; Azerbaijani FM Mammadyarov and Armenian FM Nalbandian 23 Sept met OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, discussed preparations for Paris summit. Sarkisian 24 Sept criticised Azerbaijan in UN speech for preventing resolution of NK dispute. Azerbaijani citizen detained 5 Sept by NK de facto authorities after crossing contact line; released 11 Sept. Armenian soldier killed 18 Sept on contact line; Azerbaijani officer reportedly killed 27 Sept on contact line, denied by Armenian Defence Ministry.

At least 15 reportedly killed in late July- early Aug violence along front line. UNSG Ban, U.S., EU and OSCE all voiced serious concern, called for ceasefire to be respected. Armenian, Russian, U.S., French authorities demanded investigation after Armenian citizen 8 Aug died in Azerbaijani custody. Azeri-captured Armenian soldier Hakob Injighulyan transferred to third country 29 Aug. Armenian PM Abrahamyan, Defense Minister Seyran Oganian visited NK 9 Aug; Armenian President Sarkisian visited NK 31 Aug; Azerbaijani President Aliyev visited front line 6 Aug. Russian President Putin 10 Aug convened trilateral meeting with Aliyev and Armenian President Sarkisian in Sochi to defuse tensions. UNSC discussed NK during open debate 22 Aug. California Senate 27 Aug passed resolution recognizing independence of NK, U.S. Embassy in Baku stated resolution does not reflect U.S. foreign policy.

Skirmishes continued with several reports of deaths, injuries, and continuing escalations including alleged ceasefire violations: de facto Nagorno-Karabakh/Armenian authorities 11 July claimed Azerbaijani soldier involved in commando raid in Kelbajar area captured, 14 July said forc- es “neutralised saboteurs” from Azerbaijan who killed ethnic Armenian teenager missing since 4 July. 1 killed, 3 injured including mayor of Armenian city Armavir when car hit landmine in Armenian-occupied Azerbaijani district 22 July. OSCE mediators late July expressed “serious concern” over increased tensions, targeted killings.

Tensions continued to escalate: reports of daily fighting and allegations of use of artillery in front-line areas; Armenia reported at least 5 killed throughout month, several injured including 2 soldiers reportedly killed 2 June by Azerbaijani sniper on front line. Reports of serious clashes along border between Armenia and Azerbaijan’s Nakhichevan enclave. Azerbaijani delegate to Council of Europe as- sembly Elkhan Suleymanov 18 June tabled motion calling for sanctions against Armenia for occupation of Azerbaijani territories. Armenian delegation 16 June attended NATO-sponsored conference on Nagorno-Karabakh (NK) in Baku, said had nei- ther appetite nor capability for another full-scale war. Armenian PM Abrahamyan 24 June visited NK. OSCE chairperson Didier Burkhalter visited Baku 2 June, called for intensified peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Member of French delegation to OSCE PA denied visa for Assembly in Baku 29 June be- cause of visit to NK.

Several reports of clashes along front line: 2 Azerbaijani troops, 1 Armenian soldier reported killed in clashes near Fizuli region 28 May. Armenian President Sarkisian visited 9 May to mark WW2 Victory Day.

Azerbaijan reported it held unprecedented large military drills in sensitive Nakhichevan exclave late April involving around 20,000 troops, 400 armoured vehicles, weapons systems. Several reports of renewed fighting with Armenian forces, many around northern border between countries near Georgian border. Azerbaijan 8 April reported officer and 2 conscripts killed in mine explosion on contact line with Armenian-occupied Fizuli district. Opposition media also reported fierce fighting in area late April, no confirmation. Also reported 90 tanks and other armoured vehicles relocated from Russian military base in Gyumri to Armenia’s Goris region, alleged plans to send them to Azerbaijan’s Lachin region, occupied by Armenian forces.

Amid uncertainty over impact of Russian intervention in Ukraine on OSCE Minsk Group mediating between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents met on sidelines of 24-25 March nuclear security summit in The Hague, pledged to continue peace talks. Minsk Group’s U.S. Co-Chair James Warlick 16 March said on Twitter that U.S. and Russia could still work together on resolving N-K conflict. Baku 28 March accused Armenia of firing on Azerbaijani village near border in violation of ceasefire, injuring 2.