Author: Chalian Meline

A 20-year-old girl in Azerbaijan is accused of spying in favor of Armenia

Chalian Meline
Sept 7 2023
  • JAMnews
  • Baku

An eco-activist in Karabakh and an Armenian spy

A young girl has been brought to court in Azerbaijan on charges of high treason. Fidan Aliyeva is accused of espionage in favor of Armenia, transferring information about Azerbaijan through an employee of that country’s special service.

  • 7 facts “about Armenia’s departure from Russia”. How they are seen in Moscow and Yerevan
  • Azerbaijani army officer addresses Vagif Khachatryan’s relatives
  • Meeting with Macron. Amid impeachment threats, Georgian president continues European tour

Aliyeva, 20, has been charged under Article 274 (treason against the homeland) of the Criminal Code. Under this charge, he faces up to 20 years or life imprisonment. However, according to Azerbaijani law, women and men over 65 are not sentenced to life imprisonment.

Fidan Aliyeva was detained by the State Security Service several months ago. Her case is currently being considered by the Baku Court of Grave Crimes.

According to Radio Liberty, Aliyeva was among the participants of the protest that started on December 12, 2022 and lasted 138 days on the section of the Lachin-Khankendi road passing through the territory of Shushi. It is alleged that she sent information, videos and photos to an Armenian intelligence officer whom she met through a Telegram channel. Some of the images are reportedly taken from different parts of Baku.

Experts weigh in on the meaning and possible resolution of the Lachin corridor blockade

However, Fidan Aliyeva refutes the accusations. She claims that the accusations of spying in favor of Armenia are not true. Because she thought that the person she met in Telegram was Russian. According to her, she communicated with this person for personal purposes, not for information transfer.

“At first I didn’t know he was Armenian at all. My goal was to get to know him as an ordinary person. I had no other purpose than to provide information about Azerbaijan.”

As for the photos and videos sent, Aliyeva said that the man with whom she was communicating sometimes asked her to take photos in certain places and send them to him, which she did.

The judicial investigation into Aliyeva’s case is ongoing.

From December 12 last year until April 2023, a group of Azerbaijani citizens calling themselves eco-activists gathered on the Lachin-Khankendi road. The Armenian side accused the Azerbaijani authorities of being behind these actions and blocking the part of Karabakh where Russian peacekeeping forces are temporarily stationed.

On April 23, Azerbaijan set up a checkpoint on the border with Armenia, at the beginning of the Lachin-Khankendi road, and explained this by the illegal transportation of weapons from Armenia into Azerbaijani territory. Armenia does not accept this accusation and considers the establishment of the border checkpoint contrary to the trilateral declaration.

https://jam-news.net/a-20-year-old-girl-in-azerbaijan-is-accused-of-spying-in-favor-of-armenia/




Armenia slams Russia for ‘absolute indifference’

Chalian Meline
Aug 31 2023
 

ByAni Avetisyan
A Russian peacekeeper base inside the Lachin Corridor in 2022. Photo: Ani Avetisyan/OC Media

Armenia has condemned Russia’s ‘absolute indifference’ towards Azerbaijani attacks on Armenian territory, after Russia’s Foreign Ministry claimed that Armenia was to blame for the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh. 

In a scathing statement on Thursday, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry accused Russia of ‘absolute indifference’ to Azerbaijan’s attacks on Armenia’s territory in September 2022. It added that Russia had then ‘[left] unanswered’ an official request from Armenia for military assistance as per agreements with both Russia and the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO). 

The statement also accused Russia and the CSTO of maintaining the ‘obviously false and highly dangerous thesis’ that the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan was not demarcated, and that attacks on and incursions into Armenian territory were consequently difficult to verify. 

The Foreign Ministry statement additionally accused Russian peacekeepers of acting ‘outside the scope of their mission and geographical area of responsibility’ during a conflict near the Lachin checkpoint on 15 June, and of providing support to Azerbaijani soldiers attempting to plant an Azerbaijani flag on Armenian territory. 

 

After the incident, in which one Azerbaijani and one Armenian soldier were wounded, Azerbaijani border forces implemented a total blockade of the Lachin Corridor, depriving the region’s population of any supplies or humanitarian assistance.

‘In the presence of Russian peacekeepers, the Azerbaijani side resorted to such steps as the kidnapping of Nagorno-Karabakh residents in the presence of Russian peacekeepers in the Lachin Corridor’, the statement asserted, referring to recent arrests of civilians attempting to cross the Lachin checkpoint. 

[Read more: Azerbaijan arrests three Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians for ‘insulting’ Azerbaijani flag]

The ministry’s statement came in response to Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova’s claim on Wednesday that Armenia was responsible for the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh.

‘I would like to remind you that the current situation in the Lachin corridor is a consequence of Armenia’s recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh as part of the territory of Azerbaijan’, said Zakharova. 

Zakharova also dismissed criticism of perceived inaction by the Russian peacekeeping mission in Nagorno-Karabakh, claiming that given the context, criticising the peacekeeping forces was ‘inappropriate, wrong, and unjustified’. 

Armenia’s Foreign Ministry directly responded to Zakharova early on Thursday, with the ministry’s spokesperson Ani Badalyan saying that Zakharova’s statement ‘causes confusion and disappointment’. 

Armenia’s Foreign Ministry also claimed that while Armenia had agreed to a Russian proposition within Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations that discussion of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh be postponed indefinitely, Russia did not further pursue that approach after it was rejected by Azerbaijan. 

Zakharova’s assertions echoed a 15 July statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry, which claimed that Pashinyan’s decision to recognise Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity ‘radically changed the fundamental conditions’ relating to both the peace agreement signed in November 2020, which ended the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, and the status of Russian peacekeeping forces in the region.  

A Russian peacekeeping mission was deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh immediately following the war, with a mandate to both ensure the security of the region’s Armenian population and oversee free passage of vehicles along the Lachin Corridor. 

Since Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin Corridor began in December 2022, both officials and broader society in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh have accused Russia’s peacekeeping contingent and political leaders of being inactive, deepening existing concerns and criticism regarding the mission and Russia’s involvement in the region. 

As the blockade worsened, Russian peacekeepers were accused of taking money from people in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh to import basic necessities from Armenia, or even allow people to travel out of the region. After the peacekeeping forces were barred by Azerbaijan from using the Lachin Corridor to deliver aid, there have been widespread reports in Nagorno-Karabakh that they have used helicopters to deliver supplies for themselves. 

The obstruction of the Lachin Corridor, the main road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia, has resulted in severe shortages of food and basic necessities, compounded by a lack of fuel and electricity. The region’s government and humanitarian organisations have warned that a humanitarian crisis is unfolding, with the region’s population increasingly at risk of starvation. 

[Read more: First death from starvation reported in blockade-struck Nagorno-Karabakh]

Aid convoys sent from Armenia by the Armenian and French governments in July and August have been refused entry to the region, remaining stationed in Syunik Province, south Armenia, which borders the Lachin corridor. 

While Azerbaijan has pushed for Nagorno-Karabakh to accept aid sent via the Aghdam road through Azerbaijan-controlled territory, a convoy of 40 tonnes of flour sent by Azerbaijan’s Red Crescent on Tuesday was refused entry by both Nagorno-Karabakh officials and civilians. 

 For ease of reading, we choose not to use qualifiers such as ‘de facto’, ‘unrecognised’, or ‘partially recognised’ when discussing institutions or political positions within Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and South Ossetia. This does not imply a position on their status.


Armenia’s Alen Simonyan to participate in European Conference of Presidents of Parliament in Dublin

Chalian Meline

 12:51,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 24, ARMENPRESS. Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan will lead a delegation to Dublin, Ireland to participate in the European Conference of Presidents of Parliament.

Speakers and presidents of parliament from the 46 member states of the Council of Europe and many partner, observer and neighbouring countries, as well as the heads of several interparliamentary assemblies, will gather in Dublin on 28 and 29 September 2023 for the European Conference of Presidents of Parliament.

Around 350 participants are expected at the parliamentary summit, which is held every two years under the auspices of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

Members of Parliament Arsen Torosyan (Civil Contract), Sona Ghazaryan (Civil Contract) and Armen Gevorgyan (Hayastan) will travel to Dublin with Speaker Simonyan, the parliament’s press service said in a statement.

Armenia continues activities in UN, other platforms following UNSC meeting on Nagorno- Karabakh – foreign ministry spox

Chalian Meline

 17:30,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 21, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia continues its activities in the UN and other platforms, foreign ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan said in response to media inquiries on the UNSC emergency meeting on Nagorno-Karabakh and possible subsequent developments.

She said that the international community, the members of the UN Security Council interested in real, lasting stability in the region must take clear steps, unite efforts in order to lead the developed understanding regarding the importance of reopening the Lachin corridor and the immediate resolution of the problem with effective use of existing mechanisms.

Question: On August 16, an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council was held regarding the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. The countries expressed their positions, but it was not reflected in any document. Why was there no decision made, no document adopted? Did Armenia present such a document?

Answer: As we have already noted, we highly appreciate the principled positions voiced so far by our partners, international bodies during this and the previous meeting of the UN Security Council held in December, as well as on other international platforms, which are in line with the primary mandate of the UN Security Council of maintenance of international security and peace, the universal values of human rights protection and, perhaps what is the most urgent at the moment, the understanding of the need to prevent Azerbaijan’s aggressive actions and a new humanitarian catastrophe in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Procedurally, the format of the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council is a discussion, it does not directly imply adoption of a document (resolution or statement). In addition, the 15 (permanent and non-permanent) members of the UN Security Council have the right to submit and initiate voting of draft resolutions of the UN Security Council. Not being a member of the UN Security Council, Armenia does not have such authority.

The discussion in the format of the UN Security Council provides an important platform, an opportunity to focus the attention of the international community on the possible catastrophic consequences of the situation, to activate the Council’s efforts to address it and to foster their possible coordination and to outline the further steps.

Question: Is that the end of the process?

Answer: By no means. This is an ongoing process. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia continues its activities in the UN and other platforms. Today, the international community, the members of the UN Security Council interested in real, lasting stability in the region must take clear steps, unite efforts in order to lead the developed understanding regarding the importance of reopening the Lachin corridor and the immediate resolution of the problem with effective use of existing mechanisms.

Question: Why was the emergency meeting of August 16 convened under the title “The letter of September 13 of the Permanent Representative of Armenia to the UN addressed to the President of the UN Security Council”? Why wasn’t a new letter or application sent by Armenia?

Answer: After Armenia’s request to the UN Security Council after Azerbaijan’s aggression against the sovereign territory of Armenia in September 2022, a relevant agenda point of the UN Security Council was formed under the title you indicated. This is an accepted practice in the UN Security Council and has a very simple technical justification – not to burden the Security Council agenda with different formulations of the same or very similar issues.

I would like to emphasise that, in the letter of September 13th, Armenia brought to the attention of the UN Security Council the letter of the Minister of Foreign Affairs which indicated Azerbaijan’s armed attack and the ongoing aggressive actions against both Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh highlighting that they threaten international peace and security.

Later, starting from December 2022, discussions regarding the blockade of the Lachin corridor and the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh took place with reference to the mentioned letter and under the relevant agenda point.

It is noteworthy that ahead of the both meetings in December 2022 and in August this year, Armenia presented concrete requests, letters to the attention of the members of the UN Security Council aimed at raising the issue of the blockade of the Lachin corridor. In addition, several dozen letters were distributed addressing the blockade and the humanitarian crisis both in the UN Security Council, the General Assembly, and other international platforms.

Armenpress: ICRC calls for resumption of urgently needed humanitarian deliveries across Lachin Corridor

Chalian Meline

 11:27,

YEREVAN, AUGUST 19, ARMENPRESS. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has called on decision-makers to find a compromise and make it possible to resume urgently needed humanitarian deliveries to blockaded Nagorno-Karabakh.

“The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) remains the only humanitarian organization operating across the Lachin corridor to respond to growing humanitarian needs. The latest deliveries of medical supplies occurred July 7, while the latest delivery of food occurred June 14. The ICRC is urging decision-makers to find a compromise and make it possible to resume urgently needed humanitarian deliveries,” the ICRC said in a statement.

The Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia and the rest of the world, has been blocked by Azerbaijan since late 2022. The Azerbaijani blockade constitutes a gross violation of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement, which established that the 5km-wide Lachin Corridor shall be under the control of Russian peacekeepers. Furthermore, on February 22, 2023 the United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – ordered Azerbaijan to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.  Azerbaijan has been ignoring the order ever since. The ICJ reaffirmed its order on 6 July 2023.

Azerbaijan then illegally installed a checkpoint on Lachin Corridor. The blockade has led to shortages of essential products such as food and medication. Azerbaijan has also cut off gas and power supply into Nagorno Karabakh, with officials warning that Baku seeks to commit ethnic cleansing against Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. Hospitals have suspended normal operations.

Armenian serviceman wounded in Azeri cross-border shooting

Chalian Meline

 22:57, 14 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 14, ARMENPRESS. A serviceman of the Armed Forces of Armenia was wounded Monday evening when Azerbaijani forces opened gunfire at Armenian positions near Verin Shorzha, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

The Azeri troops opened fire around 19:50, on August 14, from various caliber small arms at Armenian military outposts near Verin Shorzha.

The wounded serviceman is in serious condition.

Armenpress: Blinken holds call with Aliyev, underscores urgent need for free transit along Lachin Corridor

Chalian Meline

 10:05, 31 July 2023

YEREVAN, JULY 31, ARMENPRESS. United States Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev over the weekend to express deep concern for the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and underscored the urgent need for free movement along the Lachin Corridor, according to the United States State Department.

“Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev yesterday to express deep concern for the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. Secretary Blinken underscored the urgent need for free transit of commercial, humanitarian, and private vehicles through the Lachin corridor, and emphasized the need for compromise on alternative routes so humanitarian supplies can reach the population of Nagorno-Karabakh. The Secretary stressed the need for all parties to keep up positive momentum on peace negotiations,” the State Department said in a readout of the call.

Blinken then posted a tweet about the call, saying ‘I spoke to Azerbaijani President Aliyev yesterday to express our deep concern for the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Nagorno-Karabakh. The United States urges all sides to continue dialogue to reach a durable peace agreement.’

Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect issues Atrocity Alert for Nagorno- Karabakh,calls on Baku to end blockade

Chalian Meline

 12:54, 3 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 3, ARMENPRESS. The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect has issued an atrocity alert for Nagorno-Karabakh amid the ongoing blockade by Azerbaijan.

Atrocity Alert is a weekly publication by the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect highlighting situations where populations are at risk of, or are enduring, mass atrocity crimes.

The organization called on Azerbaijan to immediately lift the blockade of the Lachin corridor and allow for unhindered and safe passage of civilians and goods along the corridor, as well as guarantee unimpeded humanitarian access in line with international law and the order by the International Court of Justice.

 “For more than seven months Azerbaijani authorities have blockaded the Lachin corridor, the sole road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia, precipitating a humanitarian crisis. The blockade has deprived over 120,000 ethnic Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh, including 30,000 children, of life-saving resources such as food, medicine, electricity and fuel. On 28 July Armenian authorities accused Azerbaijan of denying transport of over 400 tons of humanitarian aid into Nagorno-Karabakh. In a statement issued on 25 July the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that despite persistent efforts, ‘the last time the ICRC was allowed to bring medical items and essential food items into the area was several weeks ago’,” the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect said in a press release.

The organization mentioned Nagorno-Karabakh President Arayik Harutyunyan’s request to Luis Moreno Ocampo, former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, for an expert opinion on the blockade. “While the opinion has no legal implications, it may help determine if the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh merits further investigation,” the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect added.

“Deprivation of resources indispensable to survival imposes excessive burdens upon civilians that may eventually result in immense suffering and loss of life. Under International Humanitarian Law, all sides must allow and facilitate the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need, including medical supplies and essential food. The intentional and unlawful denial of humanitarian assistance may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity,” the organization further said. 

The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect called on Azerbaijan to immediately lift the blockade and comply with ICJ orders. 

“Azerbaijani authorities must immediately lift the blockade of the Lachin corridor and allow for unhindered and safe passage of civilians and goods along the corridor, as well as guarantee unimpeded humanitarian access in line with international law and the order by the ICJ. States must engage in further dialogue with all parties, as well as support calls from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to establish an independent fact-finding mission to assess the humanitarian situation,” the organization said.

Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia and the rest of the world, has been blocked by Azerbaijan since late 2022. The Azerbaijani blockade constitutes a gross violation of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement, which established that the 5km-wide Lachin Corridor shall be under the control of Russian peacekeepers. Furthermore, on February 22, 2023 the United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – ordered Azerbaijan to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.  Azerbaijan has been ignoring the order ever since. The ICJ reaffirmed its order on 6 July 2023.

Azerbaijan then illegally installed a checkpoint on Lachin Corridor. The blockade has led to shortages of essential products such as food and medication. Azerbaijan has also cut off gas and power supply into Nagorno Karabakh, with officials warning that Baku seeks to commit ethnic cleansing against Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. Hospitals have suspended normal operations.

Armenians in Yerevan and Stepanakert hold rally demanding to lift the blockade of Artsakh

Chalian Meline

 21:15,

YEREVAN, JULY 25, ARMENPRESS. With the national anthem of the Republic of Artsakh, a popular rally was launched on July 25 in Stepanakert Renaissance Square and parallel in Yerevan’s Freedom Squares with the demand to lift the blockade of Artsakh and respect the right of its people to self-determination.

The correspondent of ARMENPRESS reports, Bishop Ter Vrtanes Abrahamyan, Primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church addressed the participants of the rally from Yerevan’s Freedom Square. “Today’s reality comes to remind us once again that the Artsakh movement is not over and is still going on. It should become for us like daily bread, it should become a way of life, a mission, an idea and a struggle. During the Artsakh movement, thousands of Armenians became heroes and immortalized. We must make no mistakes under their spiritual look, but by becoming a united fist with the whole nation, we should bring that movement to its good end, a free, independent Artsakh,” said the Bishop, conveying to the people of Artsakh the fatherly love and prayers of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.

Then the video message of Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I was presented.

Artsakh Republic President Arayik Harutyunyan, National Assembly Speaker Artur Tovmasyan, State Minister Gurgen Nersisyan, and other officials are also participating in the rally in Stepanakert’s Renaissance Square.

Red Cross facilitates medical evacuations from blockaded Nagorno Karabakh

Chalian Meline

 14:25,

YEREVAN, JULY 24, ARMENPRESS.  The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has facilitated the transfer of 11 patients, together with attendants, from blockaded Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia for treatment, the Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) Ministry of Healthcare announced on Monday.

Another 13 patients, accompanied by attendants, who’ve completed treatment in Armenia will be taken back to Artsakh later in the day.

The Nagorno Karabakh healthcare authorities said that 20 children remain hospitalized in the Arevik clinic. 7 of them are in neonatal and intensive care.

Meanwhile, 76 patients are hospitalized in the Republican Medical Center in Stepanakert. 12 of them are in intensive care (2 are in critical condition).

Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia and the rest of the world, has been blocked by Azerbaijan since late 2022. The Azerbaijani blockade constitutes a gross violation of the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh ceasefire agreement, which established that the 5km-wide Lachin Corridor shall be under the control of Russian peacekeepers. Furthermore, on February 22, 2023 the United Nations’ highest court – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – ordered Azerbaijan to “take all steps at its disposal” to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.  Azerbaijan has been ignoring the order ever since. Moreover, Azerbaijan then illegally installed a checkpoint on Lachin Corridor. The blockade has led to shortages of essential products such as food and medication. Azerbaijan has also cut off gas and power supply into Nagorno Karabakh, with officials warning that Baku seeks to commit ethnic cleansing against Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh. Hospitals have suspended normal operations and the Red Cross has been facilitating the medical evacuations of patients.