Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan sent his condolences to Japanese PM Fumio Kishida following the shooting death today of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Japanese police report that Abe was shot at a campaign rally in the Japanese city of Nara.

“I am deeply shocked by the murder of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. On behalf of the Armenian people and myself, I express our sincere sorrow to you and the friendly people of Japan. Please send words of sympathy and support to Shinzo Abe's relatives and friends,” Pashinyan wrote in a telegram.

The shooter, who was apprehended at the scene, has been identified as a former member of Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force.

Japanese police say the 41 year-old man, Tetsuya Yamagami, shot Abe because he believed he was associated with a group Yamagami hated.