Human Rights Watch
Nov. 2, 2021
[Their Rights and Freedoms Must Be Secured.]
Statement by Nongovernmental Organizations
02 November 2021
We, representatives of nongovernmental organizations, would like to
express our grave concern over the deteriorating situation for Turkmen
migrants in Turkey – primarily those who criticize Turkmen government
policies. Over the past few weeks many of them have been subjected to
threats, presumably as a result of pressure from the Turkmen
authorities on the law enforcement authorities of Turkey as well as
physical attacks. We call on the Turkmen government to stop this
harassment and call on the authorities of Turkey to uphold their
international legal obligations and ensure the protection of rights
and freedoms of Turkmen nationals residing in Turkey. We urge the
international community to closely monitor this worrying situation and
assist in resolving it. Turkey is one of very few countries to which Turkmen citizens can
travel without a visa and where they may apply and obtain a residence
permit that is renewable on an annual basis. Similar languages and
culture foster auspicious conditions for employment, education, and
successful integration into local communities. According to some
sources, over a million Turkmen nationals reside in Turkey, including
migrant workers, students, and their family members. In recent years, officials in Turkmenistan’s consulates abroad, in
violation of Turkmen law, have refused to renew and replace Turkmen
citizens’ passports, and force Turkmen residents to return to
Turkmenistan in order to renew their Turkmen identity documents. As a
result of this refusal, many Turkmen migrants cannot conform to
migration laws of the countries where they reside, including Turkey. In the past eighteen months the situation has been exacerbated by the
Covid-19 pandemic: due to travel restrictions the number of Turkmen
nationals who are experiencing problems with their documents and are
unable to return to their home country has considerably increased. As
a result, thousands of Turkmen migrants with expired passports in
Turkey cannot exercise their rights to employment, education, health
care, and freedom of movement. They cannot register marriages, births,
and other civic acts. This appalling situation has forced Turkmen migrants in Turkey to
organize a group of civil activists, who requested that the Consulate
fulfill their obligations under the Turkmen and international law to
renew passports. They also criticized the government’s refusal to
acknowledge the presence of Covid-19 infections in Turkmenistan, its
inadequate response to the country’s economic crisis, and the
authorities’ suppression of free speech. People started taking to the
streets to participate in peaceful rallies and sharing their problems
on social media. Many Turkmen nationals and human rights defenders
have repeatedly urged the Turkmen authorities to assist migrants in
legalizing their documents. To the credit of the Turkish migration authorities, for a long time
they had been sympathetic towards Turkmen migrants and had not
penalized them because of expired passports. However, the situation
recently changed: in the course of preparations for the meeting of the
Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States, scheduled for 12
November in Istanbul, there has been an increasing number of reports
of arbitrary detention of Turkmen civil activists by the Turkish
police, their placement in deportation facilities and threats of their
immediate deportation to Turkmenistan. Experts[1] believe that the
Turkish authorities are trying to convince Turkmenistan to join the
Council and are making efforts to ensure this happens during the
upcoming session. Changes in the policy pursued by the Turkish
authorities towards Turkey-based Turkmen activists have occurred,
apparently, in response to requests by the Turkmen government, which
seeks to put an end to its nationals’ civic activities abroad. Taking into account that Turkmenistan has a long record of severely
punishing peaceful critics of its government, forcibly returning
activists to Turkmenistan would place them at grave risk of
persecution, including a high risk of arbitrary arrest, torture, and
even enforced disappearance in prisons. A number of recent cases illustrate this dramatic situation. This is
not a comprehensive list because not everyone is willing to disclose
their situation out of concern for the safety of their families in
Turkmenistan. Turkmen authorities are pressuring family members of
Turkey-based activists because of their civic activism. *
When detaining Turkmen migrants, Turkish police reportedly refer to a
list of 25 individuals, which was allegedly handed over to them by
Turkmenistan’s Consulate with a request for their detention and
deportation. Neither the detained activists nor Turkish lawyers
representing them have been able to see the list of 25 activists and
learn about the legal grounds for their detention. Turkmen human
rights defenders have on file a list of 13 individuals (№44/05-5490
dated 1 August), which the Turkmen Consulate sent to the Turkish
police. Despite statements of Turkmen activists and international human rights
defenders, the Turkish authorities have continued to side with staff
of the Turkmenistan’s Consulate. The latter, in turn, are engaged in
creating false and arbitrary complaints against their fellow
countrymen, based on which the Turkish police arbitrarily and
illegally detain Turkmen migrants and threaten to deport them. In addition, there are numerous alarming reports that Turkmen
nationals – supporters of Berdymukhammedov’s government – regularly
attack Turkmen civil activists in Turkey and threaten reprisals
against them and their family members. The complaints that these
activists have filed with Turkish law enforcement and judicial
authorities did not result in effective investigations or
prosecutions, which contributes to impunity and new assaults. **
There is also evidence that supporters of the Turkmen authorities have
routinely threatened and harassed activists in Turkey, and regularly
intimidate young activists on the phone and on the Internet. They
intimidate activists and their relatives with serious threats,
including murder, both in Turkey and Turkmenistan. Activists have
repeatedly filed reports with the Turkish police presenting
screenshots of the threats and giving names of perpetrators, but the
police do not undertake any effective action. These attacks and threats are egregious examples of foreign nationals
persecuting Turkmen activists in Turkey. Inaction by the Turkish law
enforcement authorities in connection with this criminal wrongdoing
cannot be justified and contradicts Turkish and international law. We call on the Turkish authorities:
to halt any plans to deport detained Turkmen activists to
Turkmenistan, ensure they have access to a lawyer, immediately release
them from deportation custody, and allow them to continue with their
steps to regularize their status in Turkey;
to promptly carry out an effective investigation of incidents of
attacks on and intimidation of Turkmen activists in Turkey and hold
those responsible accountable. We hope that Turkey will abide by the rule of law and will not, in
order to advance geopolitical interests, pressure Turkmen activists
and cover up for those violating the law on its territory, at the
behest of illegal demands of Turkmen authorities. The Turkish
authorities must abide by its international obligations and the
fundamental principle of nonrefoulement, which obliges states to
ensure that they do not send anyone to a place where they face a real
risk of torture or other ill-treatment. Turkey is bound by its
obligations to protect fundamental rights and freedoms of people on
its territory and ensure they are not persecuted, and should not be
complicit in gross violations of human rights. We urge intergovernmental organizations and Turkey’s international
partners to draw their attention to this acute situation and call on
Ankara to abide by its obligations under international law and prevent
deportation of Turkmen civil activists to Turkmenistan, including
those who are now in custody. Annadurdy Khadjiev, Turkmen Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (Bulgaria)
Farid Tukhbatullin, Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights (Austria)
Yuri Dzhibladze, Centre for the Development of Democracy and Human
Rights (Russia)
Adaem Çevik, Adalet Human Rights Platform (Turkey)
Vyacheslav Mamedov, Turkmen Civil Democratic Union (the Netherlands)
Ruslan Myatiyev, Turkmen.News (the Netherlands)
Тimur Misrikhanov, Turkmenistan’s Independent Lawyers Association
(the Netherlands)
Kate Watters, Crude Accountability (USA)
Ivar Dale, Norwegian Helsinki Committee (Norway)
Olga Zakharova, Freedom Files (Poland)
Krassimir Kanev, Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (Bulgaria)
Valentin Gefter, expert with the Presidential Council for the
Development of Civil Society and Human Rights under the President of
the Russian Federation (Russia)
Rachel Denber, Human Rights Watch (international)
Alexander Cherkasov, Human Rights Centre “Memorial”, included by
the Ministry of Justice of Russia in the list stipulated by p. 10 art. 13.1 of the Federal Law “On NGOs” (Russia)
Gerald Staberok, OMCT (World Organisation Against Torture) (international)
Svetlana Gannushkina, Civic Assistance Committee (Russia),
included by the Ministry of Justice of Russia in the list stipulated
by p. 10 art. 13.1 of the Federal Law “On NGOs”
Oleksandra Matviichuk, Center for Civil Liberties (Ukraine)
Artur Sakunts, Helsinki Citizens Assembly – Vanadzor office (Armenia)
Tolekan Ismailova, Human Rights Movement “Bir Duino – Kyrgyzstan”
(Kyrgyzstan)
Eldar Zeynalov, Human Rights Center of Azerbaijan (Azerbaijan)
Lenur Kerymov, Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (Poland)
Natalia Taubina, Public Verdict Foundation, included by the
Ministry of Justice of Russia in the list stipulated by p. 10 art. 13.1 of the Federal Law “On NGOs” (Russia)
Evgeny Zhovtis, Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights
and Rule of Law (Kazakhstan)
Anara Ibraeva, NGO “Kadyr-Kasiet” (Kazakhstan)
Elena Shakhova, Human rights NGO "Citizens' Watch", St. Petersburg, included by the Ministry of Justice of Russia in the list
stipulated by p. 10 art. 13.1 of the Federal Law “On NGOs” (Russia)
Ucha Nanuashvili, Human Rights Center (Georgia)
Vadim Pivovarov, Association UMDPL (Ukraine)
Alex Postica, Promo LEX (Moldova)
Giorgi Marjanishvili, Center for Participation and Development (Georgia)
Anders Bjurner, Swedish OSCE Network (Sweden)
Sabuhi Gafarov, Human Rights Club (Azerbaijan)
Matthias Hui, humanrights.ch (Switzerland)
Matthew Schaaf, Freedom Now (USA)
Examples of persecution of Turkmen activists in Turkey
* On 27 September a civic activist, Dursoltan Taganova, was detained
and placed in a deportation centre, allegedly because the Migration
Office did not have a document confirming that she holds temporary
refugee status legalizing her stay in Turkey, despite the fact that
the Migration Office had previously granted her this status. Only on
12 October, after publication of appeals by human rights defenders and
the interference of a lawyer, Taganova was released under the pretext
of “a misunderstanding”. In mid-October she was again summoned to the
Migration Office, where officials tried to convince her to revoke her
refugee application which guarantees that she will not be deported. In September 2021, in the presence of witnesses, activist Aziz Mamedov
submitted his passport to the Turkmen Consulate for extension. Since
then he has visited the Consulate three times, but diplomats have not
returned the document, claiming it has been lost. His lawyer is denied
access to the Consulate. Furthermore, every time the activist appears
at the Consulate, diplomats call the police. On 18 October, 2021 47-year-old Akhmed Rakhmanov was sent to a
deportation centre soon after he had visited the Migration Office in
Antalya to extend his residence permit. Rakhmanov, the administrator
of an online chat group for a Turkmen political opposition
group-in-exile, Democratic Choice of Turkmenistan, has repeatedly
criticized the Turkmen regime on YouTube and TikTok and gave comments
to the Turkmen Service of Radio Liberty. He was kept in the Tuzla
deportation facility, where he went on hunger strike on 22 October,
2021. Later on 18 October, 35-year-old Kamil Abulov was taken from his
apartment in Istanbul. Abulov’s spouse was informed by law enforcement
officers that the Turkish authorities have a list of 25 names of
Turkmen activists in Turkey who are at risk of detention at the behest
of the Turkmenistan’s Consulate. Abulov was also placed in the Tuzla
deportation centre. He is known to be one of the Turkmen activists who
had previously been detained by the Turkish police after a failed
rally attempt in front of Turkmenistan’s Consulate in Istanbul on 1
August. On 26 and 27 October 2021, after HRW’s appeal and the lawyer’s
interference, both were released. Police officers were looking for three other Turkmen activists,
including Merdan Badrov, at their registered place of residence in
Istanbul on 20 October 2021, in order to detain them. Fortunately,
they were not at home. On 22 October 2021, Bayram Allalyev was detained in a migration office
in Istanbul, to which he had been summoned to file for a renewal of
his residence permit. While he was filling in the documents, law
enforcement officers detained him. On 1 November, Allalyev was
released from the Pendik deportation centre. ** On 1 August 2021, with the collusion of employees of Turkmenistan’s
Consulate, a violent incident occurred when several activists were
beaten in front of the Consulate by unidentified officials. Two of the
victims had to seek medical help because one of them sustained an
injury to his head with a heavy object. There are solid grounds to
believe that the attackers are connected to Consulate staff because
when asked to return a telephone confiscated from the beaten activist
Aziz Mamedov, the attackers said that they could collect it in the
Consulate. The victims recognized the assailant on dashboard camera
footage. In addition, activist Farkhad Durdyev told human rights
defenders that during the incident he was tricked into entering the
Consulate area and was beaten. In connection with these attacks the
activists are working with lawyers and intend to resolve this issue by
legal means. On 11 October 2021, two activists and a visitor to the office of the
Association of Oghuz Culture, Cooperation and Education in Istanbul,
were attacked by unidentified individuals. This happened after
activists had given an interview to a British journalist. A bag with a
telephone and documents was stolen from the Chairperson of the
Association of Oghuz Culture Nurmukhamed Annayev. Civic activist Aziz
Mamedov was severely punched in the face. First aid was rendered to
the assault’s victims. The activists claim that one of the attackers
resembles a person, who had assaulted Turkmen protesters in Istanbul
on 1 August 2021. This time, according to them, he had “an implement
which looked like a metal knuckle duster” in his hands. The activists
believe that the assault is related to the planned trip of Nurmukhamed
Annayev to the ODIHR/OSCE event scheduled to take place in Warsaw on
14-15 October, where he was going to give a speech criticizing the
Turkmen regime. *****
[1] [What is behind the attacks on Turkmen activists in Istanbul? In
Russian] Что стоит за нападениями на туркменских активистов в
Стамбуле? Radio Azatlyk – Turkmen Service of Radio Liberty, 14.10.2021
; [A Turkmen wheel in a
Turkish cart. Ankara insists on Ashgabat's joining the Turkic Union. In Russian] Туркменское колесо в турецкой телеге. Ankara insists on
Ashgabat's entry into the Turkic Union. Serdar Aitakov, Nezavisimaya
Gazeta, 03.10.2021
Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet
France appoints new Co-Chair to OSCE Minsk Group
13:48, 4 November, 2021
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. Brice Roquefueil is the new Co-Chair of France to the OSCE Minsk Group, the French government reports.
He will replace Stéphane Visconti who has been serving as the French Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group since 2016.
The respective decree has been signed on November 3.
Brice Roquefueil previously has carried out a diplomatic mission in Panama, Uzbekistan.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Armenpress: COP26: Armenian President Armen Sarkissian urges world leaders to “start thinking differently”
COP26: Armenian President Armen Sarkissian urges world leaders to “start thinking differently”
17:58, 2 November, 2021
GLASGOW, NOVEMBER 2, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian addressed the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, urging world leaders to change mentality in a world that “has become quantum” in order to effectively tackle the problems that the world is facing.
[See video]
“I would like to thank Her Majesty and Her Majesty’s Government for organizing this significant and timely event. Special thanks to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, his colleagues and the City of Glasgow for an excellent summit and warm hospitality,” President Sarkissian said, addressing the conference. “First about Armenia – a small state but a global nation.According to the World Bank analysis, Armenia is the 4th most vulnerable country to climate change in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region. Armenia has registered a 1.3-degree Celsius increase in temperature, and a 9 per cent decrease in precipitation.
Despite the challenges by the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, we are committed to a stronger integration into the global agenda on climate change and to demonstrate an increase in our climate ambition.
Armenia has consistently expressed its commitment to joining global efforts to combat climate change. In 2021 Armenia reaffirmed our commitment through the Nationally Determined Contributions and declared an objective of 40 per cent reduction of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to the 1990 levels.
The long-term objective of Armenia is to achieve climate neutrality in the second half of this century.
Transition to climate neutrality is at the core of the country’s energy independence, energy security and green growth policies.
Our vision of resilient and low-carbon growth is directly connected to a solid and effective adaptation strategy based on an ecosystem approach, reforestation, investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency, new high technologies, promotion of electric mobility and further development of nuclear energy.
Dear colleagues,
Substantial public debt burdens most developing economies in their ability to access concessional and non-concessional climate finance.
In this regard, a creative approach is crucial. I am delighted to share with you our renewed “Debt-for-Climate Swap” Initiative. It presents a new climate finance instrument. And it will help developing countries to adapt more efficiently to climate change finance, provides new economic opportunities.
Mr. President,
Exactly one year ago during its war against Nagorno-Karabakh Azerbaijan used internationally banned weapons to target not only civilians but also beautiful forests of the large area, causing massive forest fires and creating environmental disasters in place. We call on international community to step up its efforts to prevent such irresponsible, inhumane behavior.
The environmental challenges do not recognize borders and conflict lines, and we should bring all states of the world into comprehensive cooperation.
Now just a couple of words about this conference.
I thoroughly enjoyed the opening of the conference, enjoyed the speeches of my colleagues from worldwide. And it was confirmed by everybody here, that there’s a big problem which is the climate change. But that’s not the only problem that we have these days, because we are facing also pandemic, we are facing economic difficulties worldwide, we are facing rise of populism, we are facing uncertainty, we are also facing unpredictability here.
By having all of these problems, we have also recognized here globally that there’s huge wealth and that wealth is in trillions of dollars that could resolve the issue. And on the other side during the hundred years of development based on quantum technology and quantum physics, we have achieved phenomenal achievements in science and technology, and that technology today can resolve our problems be that in climate changes, be that in Covid and other problems that we are facing.
So where is the problem? Why are not we so effective or efficient? I think that there’s one thing that we should learn from the history of science when 100 years ago great scientists, people like Albert Einstein, Max Planck, Heisenberg, realized that the classical laws of physics and mechanics cannot be applied to the new discovered small particles and atoms. You have to change your mentality, you have to change your philosophy, your logic, even your common sense to understand and create the theory of quantum physics.
We are on the crossroad. The world has become quantum. This is a crossroad that we have to start thinking differently because the world that’s ahead of us, is not the one that was there 10 or 20 years ago. If we change our mentality and form our ambition and strategy, then we can effectively use the finances and the wealth that the world created during this phenomenal development and use the technology to handle the problems that we are facing. But not only to resolve the problems but also to create the basis of development to the brighter future years to come.
At the opening of this Summit Professor Brian Cox took us to a trip to Cosmos to see from the above how amazingly beautiful this Planet is and to realize that in the whole Universe this is our Home and the Only One and there is no other alternative for us but to work and to fight for this Green and Blue Planet.
Armenia is committed to become a really Smart State, devoted to our Nature, Planet and Humanity. And I’m optimistic that we can overcome these difficulties and build a brighter future for all of us.”
Editing by Stepan Kocharyan
Deputy Mayor of Armenia’s Goris: Azerbaijanis are building fortifications in Armenian territory
News.am, Armenia
Nov 2 2021
Deputy Mayor of Armenia’s Goris: Azerbaijanis are building fortifications in Armenian territory
18:10, 02.11.2021
The Azerbaijanis came and settled there on the very first day, and if you recall, the detachment of Arush Arushanyan [mayor of Goris] and I were fighting for Kachal Sar mountain, but we weren’t allowed to continue. This is what Deputy Mayor of Goris Karen Kocharyan said during a conversation with Armenian News-NEWS.am.
Kocharyan assured that the Azerbaijanis are strengthening their positions and building fortifications in the territory of Armenia. “I don’t know why Armenia isn’t building structures. Only the top leadership knows. We aren’t even renovating roads so that we can reach our boys and men in the winter. Even Armenia isn’t building roads like Azerbaijan is. They are building them in the territory of Armenia that they seized during the recent events,” the deputy mayor said.
When told that the authorities claim that the Armenian Armed Forces aren’t letting the Azerbaijanis carry out fortification works in Armenia’s territory, Kocharyan offered to take reporters and show them the place where the Azerbaijanis have built defensive structures.
Russian, Turkish FMs discuss 3+3 mechanism for South Caucasus
Panorama, Armenia
Nov 1 2021
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu focused on the prospects of a regional ‘3+3’ platform in the South Caucasus at their meeting on the margins of the G20 summit in Rome on Saturday, TASS reported.
“The coordination of the two countries’ efforts to further stabilize the Balkans and the South Caucasus was the main focus of the conversation. They discussed potential joint steps to facilitated Bosnian settlement, including the use of multilateral formats. They exchanged views on prospects for launching a 3+3 regional mechanism in order to unblock economic and transport ties and to promote mutually beneficial infrastructure projects in the South Caucasus,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement released after the meeting.
Additionally, the two ministers touched upon other international issues and the key issues of the Russian-Turkish ties.
The presidents of Azerbaijan and Turkey – Ilham Aliyev and Recep Tayyip Erdogan – earlier put forward a proposal to hold six-party talks (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, Turkey and Iran) on Karabakh and on the unblocking of economic and transport communications in the region. Iran welcomed the idea assuring of its willingness to help seek peace for the region.
CivilNet: CivilNet hosts Atlantic Council fellows and Armenian media representatives
CIVILNET.AM
27 Oct, 2021 08:10
Representatives of the Atlantic Council, an American think-tank, were in downtown Yerevan to meet with CivilNet’s team as well as other Armenian media. Along with many other functions and meetings in Armenia, they will now go on to meet Armenia’s political leaders, to get their take on the current situation and ways to overcome existing issues.
Pashinyan says unblocking of regional infrastructures could qualitative change structure of Armenia’s economy
10:46,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan believes that the unblocking of economic and transportation infrastructures in the region could qualitatively change the content and structure of Armenia’s economy.
During the debate of the 2022 state budget draft at the parliamentary standing committees, the PM said that not only the upgrading of defense capacities, but also the creation of a favorable external environment around Armenia, the consistent implementation of the agenda to open a peaceful development era for Armenia, Artsakh and the region, are important for the development of a security system. “We see this through overcoming the hostile atmosphere in our region, resuming the negotiation process for the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in the format of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship and unblocking the regional economic and transportation infrastructures”, he said.
According to him this can further contribute to the development of infrastructures in Armenia and ensure a long-term inclusive economic growth, by creating equal conditions for the citizens of Armenia for engaging into an economic activity, significantly raising the economy’s attractiveness for domestic and foreign investors.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Armenpress: Woman in Armenia dies of coronavirus at 20th week of pregnancy
Woman in Armenia dies of coronavirus at 20th week of pregnancy
21:39,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 22, ARMENPRESS. A woman in Armenia died of coronavirus at the 20th week of pregnancy, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Facebook page of the Health Ministry of Armenia.
“The mother of the victim of the 44-day war died of Covid-19 in the 20th week of pregnancy. Specialists did their best to save her life, but, unfortunately, it was impossible”, the Ministry said.
Turkey’s active participation to 2020 Artsakh War incomprehensible, serious problem –Armenian President tells NATO envoy
16:13,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian received today NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia Javier Colomina Píriz and his delegation who are in Armenia as part of a regional visit, the Presidential Office reports.
Armen Sarkissian highlighted Armenia’s normal cooperation and partnering relations with the NATO. He stated that Armenia continues bringing its important contribution to the international efforts on establishing peace and stability.
The NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative said the North Atlantic alliance values the cooperation with Armenia and the continuation of the political dialogue. He highlighted Armenia’s great contribution to the NATO missions and ensuring international security.
The Armenian President and his guest also discussed the current situation in the country and the region after the 2020 war, the developments and the challenges. Touching upon the post-war humanitarian problems, the Armenian President said that Azerbaijan still continues holding the Armenian prisoners of war and civilians in captivity, which is a gross violation of the international humanitarian law.
The President once again stated that the active participation of Turkey, as a NATO member, to the 2020 war against Artsakh, can’t be understood and is a serious issue.
Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Ministry of Defense denies ombudsman’s statement on Azerbaijani military’s reinforcements
16:38,
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Defense is denying Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan’s October 18 statement.
According to the Ministry of Defense, Tatoyan’s statement contains “a number of inaccuracies, as well as claims which are false.”
The Ministry of Defense said that Tatoyan’s statement on the Azeri troops having built large shelters and amassed supplies of firewood, as well as pavement of roads leading to their positions, reinforcements and active engineering works and increase of deployed troops and armaments is exaggerated. “The claims contained in the Ombudsman’s statement are obviously exaggerated because the Azerbaijani military units are not carrying out active engineering works, haven’t build large shelters or new roads, moreover their attempts to carry out such works are successfully thwarted by the Armenian military units,” the Ministry of Defense said.
Commenting on the ombudsman’s claim that the Azerbaijani military has increased the number of troops and armaments in the positions, the Ministry of Defense said that the entire movement of the Azerbaijani troops is being monitored by the Armenian military and such process hasn’t been recorded in the recent period.
The Ministry of Defense warned the ombudsman to check facts with them when making statements which are highly sensitive to the public. The Ministry of Defense said they are ready to continue closely cooperating with the Ombudsman’s office like before.
Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan