The issue of drinking
water remains a serious problem. The Azerbaijani armed forces, after their
incursion into the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia, have
positioned themselves near reservoirs and natural springs; in certain cases, they
are under the blatantly unlawful control of Azerbaijan.
For example, it was
reported in Norabak village that 5 of the 6 natural springs that provide water
to the village are now under Azerbaijani control. They also control the village
water supply reservoir, and around 2.5 km of water line.
According to the
residents, the subsidy programs of the government before the war envisaged
solving the water problem in Norabak (Sotk, and in a number of other villages) by
laying water lines from the reservoir, but the work could not be completed as a
result of the Azerbaijani incursions and criminal acts.
Residents of Norabak
village do not have water in their houses, there are only four places in the
village where the water reaches, and it is not supplied fully. From there, the
villagers have to bring drinking water and water for household needs in buckets
almost every day on foot, by car or through other means.
The reservoir which
provided water to Jaghatsadzor, Geghamabak, Ayrk, Nerkin Shorzha, Verin Shorzha
villages, and which is located in the sovereign territory of Armenia, have also
come under Azerbaijani control.
For example, facing great
difficulties, the residents of Geghamabak village the residents even have to
bring drinking water and water for household needs from a neighboring village
located on a distance of more than 1.5 km away, in buckets and on foot, by car,
etc. There was water in Jaghatsadzor village before the Azerbaijani incursions,
however after May, 2021, the residents have been facing serious difficulties.
There are serious water
issues in Sotk village as well. The reservoir from which water is supplied
through the water line, is under the control of the Azerbaijani armed forces.
After the Azerbaijani
incursions in Jaghatsadzor village, 100 hectares of pastures are their surveillance,
which has made it impossible for people to use those areas.
In almost all the
villages, people mentioned that they had to sell their animals or some of them
because they could not gather the necessary stock of grass for the winter; If
they were able to solve some of the issues in the first year, this year the
complications are increasing. Moreover, as spring approaches, people are
concerned about safety issues, and the impossibility of cultivating their lands
and grazing their animals in the pastures.
For example, in Norabak
village, according to the estimation of the residents, they have lost 1,300
hectares of pasture, arable land and grassland. In addition, 200 hectares have
become unusable. These are the lands that in the immediate vicinity of the
Azerbaijani positions, but people cannot use them because they are under the
surveillance of the Azerbaijani servicemen, who regularly conduct shootings. In
other words, the villagers were deprived of their legal property rights.
In addition, the villages
are under the surveillance of Azerbaijani armed serviceman (especially Kut,
Norabak, Sotk and a number of other villages). for example, during the visit of
the Human Rights Defender, evidence was obtained that the sounds of shootings
conducted by Azerbaijani servicemen can be heard every day. Moreover,
Azerbaijani servicemen flash projector lights towards the village to intimidate
the residents. These acts are concerning to the residents, since they are
directly related to the rights to life, security, and other fundamental rights.
For example, in Kut,
Sotk, and Norabak villages Azerbaijani shootings occurred when people were
grazing their animals. Moreover, the residents mentioned that they had heard on
various occasions how Azerbaijani servicemen were drunk in their opinion, and
were cursing, and arguing with each other and were conducting shootings.
That is, the evidence
demonstrate that the issue of security remains a priority, while social issues
have worsened, making people’s normal life impossible.
During the meetings,
individual issues were raised, which will be processed according to the
Defender's competence.
During these visits, the
issues raised by the complaints addressed to the Human Rights Defender, and the
data provided by the Regional subdivision of the Office of the Human Rights
Defender were analyzed on site.
The real solution to the
violations is to remove the Azerbaijani armed forces from the vicinity of our
villages and roads, to guarantee the rights of the peaceful population.
The is a fundamental
issue.
Moreover, this refers to
all their deployments, and not only the incursions that occurred on May. For
the purpose of guaranteeing the rights of the residents of Armenia, the Human
Rights Defender has proposed the creation of a demilitarized security zone
around the borders of Armenia, until the end of the demarcation and
delimitation process of the borders with Azerbaijan.
This proposal of the
Human Rights Defender has been reflected in the PACE resolution of September
27, 2021.
this does not imply a
decision on which side controls which territory: That would be decided by a
demarcation and a delimitation process, meanwhile, however, everything should
be done to restore the security and normal life of the people.
These approaches are
directly derived from the OSCE, UN, and other international requirements and
international experience.
Mr. Arman Tatoyan
The Human Rights Defender
of Armenia
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