Author: Ani Tigranian

Armenia’s Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan with members of the Pan-Armenian Council of the Western U.S.

GLENDALE—The Pan Armenian Council of the Western United States met with Armenia’s Human Rights Defender Dr. Arman Tatoyan on Tuesday.

During the meeting, Tatoyan presented the humanitarian crisis caused by Azerbaijan’s massive attack on the eastern border in the Syunik Province in an attempt to breach Armenia’s sovereign territory. He also outlined the human rights abuses committed by Azerbaijani Armed forces, discussed border security and the illegal deployment of Azerbaijani forces on the roads between the communities of Armenia which endanger people’s lives and well-being, and the unlawful detention of POWs. The meeting led to a constructive discussion on the role which Diaspora organizations and communities can play in helping to secure the future of the Armenian homeland.

Dr. Tatoyan has been invited to the United States by the Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region, a PAC-WUSA member organization, to engage with a number of community stakeholders, elected officials, academic circles, and other interested parties throughout California to discuss the latest developments in the region.

Arman Tatoyan obtained his LLM and Ph.D. from the Yerevan State University, Department of Criminal Procedure and Criminalistics. He holds a Master of Laws degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. In 2016, Tatoyan was elected as the Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) of Armenia. He also serves as an Ad Hoc Judge in the European Court of Human Rights, a Permanent International Advisor at the Council of Europe’s Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law, and lectures at the Yerevan State University, American University of Armenia, and the Academy of Justice of Armenia. He previously held positions in the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia (2013-2016) and the Deputy Representative (Deputy Agent) of the Government of Armenia before the European Court of Human Rights (2013-2016). He has also been involved in different working groups for drafting laws and strategies for Armenia.

Turkey strives to boost development in the Nagorno-Karabakh region after Azerbaijan liberated it from almost three decades of Armenian occupation, Ankara’s envoy to Baku said Tuesday.

Praising Azerbaijan’s victory on the first anniversary of liberating Karabakh, Cahit Bağcı told Anadolu Agency (AA) that Azerbaijan achieved victory after a just struggle in the South Caucasus region.

“Azerbaijan secured the justice that proved elusive (in Karabakh). It fought and managed to preserve its territorial integrity. In this respect, it is a blessed and glorious victory,” he said.

Explaining how life in the Karabakh region has been returning to normal in just one year, Bağcı said Turkey is doing all it can to help the liberated territory recover.

Turkey “has made an open pledge to provide all means of institutional capacity, public and private sector experience to Azerbaijan, and is continuing to do so,” he added.

He also praised AA for its efforts during the war, saying that it is an honor “that Anadolu Agency is at every program and everywhere (in the world).”

Relations between the former Soviet republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan have remained tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

On Sept. 27, 2020, new clashes erupted after the Armenian Army attacked civilians and Azerbaijani forces, violating several humanitarian cease-fire agreements.

During the 44-daylong conflict, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and 300 settlements and villages that had been under Armenian occupation for almost 30 years.

Prior to that, about 20% of Azerbaijan’s territory was under illegal occupation.

The fighting ended with a Russian-brokered agreement on Nov. 10, 2020, with the cease-fire seen as a victory for Azerbaijan and a defeat for Armenia.

Two months later, the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a pact to develop economic ties and infrastructure to benefit the entire region. It also included the establishment of a trilateral working group in Karabakh.

Black Lake (Sev Lidj) is located in Armenia’s Syunik Province

Armenia’s Defense Ministry on Wednesday denied Azerbaijani claims that 60 Armenian soldiers found themselves surrounded in the Black Lake (Sev Lidj) area of the Syunik Province, where Azerbaijani forces breached Armenia’s sovereign border and have set up positions since May.

Azerbaijani press reports claimed that after an altercation in the area the Armenian soldiers were surrounded by Azerbaijani forces, only to be freed later through the mediation of the Russian peacekeeping forces.

“The statement of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry is obvious misinformation,” declared Armenia’s Defense Ministry, which argued that it was in fact, the Azerbaijani soldiers, who appealed to the Russian peacekeepers, after Armenian soldiers successfully thwarted any further aggravation of the situation.

The Armenian and Azerbaijani defense ministries have been sparring for two days. After Armenia’s Defense Minister Artak Karapetyan visited Artsakh, Baku called his visit a “provocation,” accusing Armenia of undermining the provisions of the November 9 agreement.