Author: Elizabeth Jabejian

Human Rights Ombudsman of the Artsakh Republic Gegham Stepanyan on Monday published an updated version of the report on the cases of the killing of civilians in Artsakh by the armed forces of Azerbaijan.

The report summarizes the data collected as a result of fact-finding work of the Artsakh Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office from September 27, 2020 to on the civilian killings by Azerbaijani forces either by targeted strikes or after their invasion of the civilian settlements of Artsakh. Only the cases proved on indisputable grounds are presented. The report provides a brief description on the circumstances of the killing of each civilian, the Ombudsman’s Office said.

According to the data collected till September 27 of this year, the identities of 80 civilians killed by the Azerbaijani military were revealed. 42 civilians were killed from long-range strikes by the Azerbaijani armed forces, including rocket-propelled grenades, shelling, bombardment, and sabotage by subversive groups. 38 civilians were killed in captivity or at least under the control of Azerbaijan from physical violence, stabbing, beheading, close-range shooting and other direct means. Out of 80 civilian victims, 68 are men and 12 are women. 52 civilians were killed at the place of residence, 15 at the public place, 11 at the place of work, 1 person in the Azerbaijani prison. The majority of civilian victims are people over 63 years old.

The ombudsman also recorded the cases of 163 civilian injuries, most of which resulted from strikes that resulted in the deaths of others. The fate of two dozen civilians from the territories occupied by Azerbaijan remains unknown.

The report was prepared in a closed and public version. The closed report adds many photos of the victims before and after their deaths. The public report was prepared without photos, taking into account the cruel and sensitive images in them.

The closed version of the report has been sent to the relevant international organizations, the public version is available here.

Ten months after the defeat of Armenian forces against Azerbaijan in the war for control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, Armenia is seeing its border regions come under threat from Baku.

Citing the official Yerevan, France 24 says hundreds of Azerbaijani soldiers have entered Armenian territory since mid-May 2021, particularly in the Syunik and Gegharkunik border provinces.

The situation is sparking concern and even panic in Armenia, particularly in villages close to the frontier, where incidents are frequent, the France 24 team on the ground reports.

“When I realized I could not go into my vegetable garden anymore, I went mad. Just how far are they going to go? I will never get used to it. What do they want from us Armenians? Who is this Aliyev [Azerbaijani President] to mock my nation like this?” Anahit Alekyan, an Armenian woman from the village of Shurnukh, tells France 24 in an interview.

The woman says she needs neither help nor money.

“I want my land and my house back,” she says, tearfully.

Shurnukh Mayor Hakob Arshakyan, whose house has also fallen under Azerbaijan’s control, says he feels a lot of pain.

Arman Abovyan, a former MP representing the opposition Prosperous Armenia faction, shared on Facebook a video of Azerbaijani soldiers setting fire to gardens and fields on Armenian territory.

“This video clearly shows how Azerbaijanis deliberately set fire to gardens and fields on Armenian territory.

“Whereas, the Armenian authorities are going to open the border and establish brotherly ties with these Turkic-speaking barbarians,” he wrote.

“One thing is for sure: during the formation of Pashinyan’s “peace era”, these Turkic-speaking savages will burn our houses with the same zeal.

“There is a future … enjoy it!” Abovyan said.