The Azerbaijani military continues shooting near
the villages of the Syunik region of the Republic of Armenia (Agarak, Yeghvard,
and other villages).
Civilians and community bodies informed the Human Rights Defender of Armenia
about this during his visits to the communities of the Syunik region yesterday
and today. According to residents, the shots are fired both during the day and
at night, they are heard in the villages, and they aim to intimidate the
civilians especially the children and women.
In addition to the shootings, the presence of
the Azerbaijani military on the roads from Kapan to Chakaten and other villages
in the Syunik region of the Republic of Armenia, and from Goris to Shurnukh and
Vorotan and other communities has seriously disrupted the free movement of
civilians and citizens of the Republic of Armenia.
As a result of these, taking into consideration their and their
families’ security, the villagers are refraining from the use of that road
during the evenings even for basic needs (for example, going to and coming back
from work or medical institution).
The presence of the Azerbaijani military
threatens the physical security of the villagers.
In addition to the physical immunity, it violates mental immunity. Azerbaijani billboards
and flags are placed on this road on artificial grounds, serving as a pretext
for the deployment of Azerbaijani military, for the purpose of their
protection.
Residents of villages (Davit Bek, Kaghnut, Vorotan, Khnatsakh, Shikahogh,
Chakaten, etc.) also stated that due to their presence near the villages, it
has become impossible to use grasslands, pastures, and private lands (as a
source of income); including in the presence of legal cadastral documents. For
example, residents of the village of Srashen told the Human Rights Defender
that shootings occured even after seeing an unarmed villager working on a plot
of land.
It is obvious, that the protection of the
rights of civilians in the Syunik region requires the urgent establishment of a
security zone.
The deployment of Azerbaijani military near the villages and roads of the
Syunik region of Armenia, including the flags and billboards, has no legal basis;
they must be removed from those places.
Հայերեն
