RA HRD calls on international actors to take immediate measures to end hostilities

The RA Human Rights Defender has issued a statement on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.

“Since September 19, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces have been shelling civilian settlements of Nagorno-Karabakh, targeting civilian population and civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, schools, etc.

The Azerbaijani Armed Forces use large-caliber weapons, including artillery, against the civilian population. According to the information registered in the office of the Human Rights Defender, as a result of the shelling there are 32 casualties and more than 200 wounded at the moment, including 7 killed (2 children) and 35 wounded (13 children) among the civilian population.

As a result of the Azerbaijani aggression, buildings, cars, houses were damaged.
Early on September 20, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces fired on an ambulance, which was heading to Martakert region to transport the bodies of eight people killed as a result of the Azerbaijani attack.
According to sources, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces also opened fire on the cars of Russian peacekeepers when they tried to evacuate women and children from Nagorno-Karabakh along the Lachin corridor through Hakari Bridge.

These facts confirm that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces are pursuing the goal of completing the ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Office of the Human Rights Defender also monitors the Azerbaijani press and social networks, recording that social network users have been targeting the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh on the basis of ethnic origin, promoting and justifying hatred and violence.

The Defender states that such an intolerant attitude of the Azerbaijani people is a consequence and proof of the Anti-Armenian policy of the Azerbaijani authorities.

The Defender emphasizes that Azerbaijan’s aggression grossly violates the principles of international law and international humanitarian law.

The Defender calls on international organizations and actors with a mandate to protect human rights to give an appropriate assessment of Azerbaijan’s actions and take immediate measures to end hostilities,” the statement says.