Today, the President of the National Assembly Mr. Ararat Mirzoyan
had a working meeting with the Human Rights Defender Mr. Arman Tatoyan. The
Defender presented to the NA President the results of the fact-finding
activities on the shelling of Berd, Chinari, Aygepar, Nerkin Karmiraghbyur and
a number of other civilian settlements of Tavush region by the Azerbaijani
armed forces.
Mr. Arman Tatoyan, in particular, noted that the human rights
fact-finding work revealed reliable evidence that the Azerbaijani armed forces
had shelled the peaceful settlements of Armenia in a way that was obviously
dangerous for the lives of the civilian population and their health. This is
evidenced by the damage done to the houses of the residents. The fact-finding
activities also indicate to the gross violations of the norms of international
humanitarian law. The shelling was carried out in the direction of a textile
factory during working hours, which produces medical masks for the prevention
of the new coronavirus. In Chinari, the shelling was carried out in the
direction of the village school, as evidenced by the unexploded mortars.
The Human Rights Defender noted that the reliable data obtained
from the primary source, the results of the necessary studies will be sent to
international organizations, as well as to the relevant state and public human
rights organizations in Armenia.
The President of the National Assembly highlighted the data
provided by the Human Rights Defender and stressed the urgent need to protect
the civilian population.
Mr. Ararat Mirzoyan noted that he has been following the events
from the very first day of the shelling in the direction of Tavush region.
Moreover, on his initiative a working group has been established in the
Parliament, which analyzes the received data, ensures the contact with both
local and international partners.
The President of the Armenian Parliament strongly condemned the
targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure by the Azerbaijani armed
forces, as well as the statement of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan about
the missile attack on the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).
At the end of the meeting, the Human Rights Defender stressed the
importance of the NA President’s human rights based approach to such issues, as
well as the approaches of the President of the Parliament to fact-finding
works.
The parties stressed that the stable high level cooperation
between them is a guarantee of effective work, and agreed to continue such
discussions.
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