Category: 2023

Spanish Foreign Minister briefed on humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh

Emil Lazarian

 17:14, 9 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 9, ARMENPRESS. On August 9, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a telephone conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain José Manuel Albares Bueno, the foreign ministry said in a press release.

Minister Mirzoyan briefed on the humanitarian crisis and its extremely negative consequences for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh resulting from Azerbaijan's illegal blockade of the Lachin corridor. Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized the seriousness of the situation and the lack of necessary medical care resulting from the complete blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh since June 15, especially for the most sensitive groups such as 30,000 children, 20,000 elderly and 9,000 persons with disabilities.

Ararat Mirzoyan stressed that the continuous deepening of the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh may jeopardize the efforts of Armenia and the international community aimed at establishing lasting peace in the region, emphasizing the need to use the existing mechanisms in a targeted manner and to take steps towards lifting the blockade of the Lachin corridor in accordance with the decisions of the International Court of Justice.

Taking into account the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the importance of the full support to the statement of the EU HR/VP of July 25 and targeted messages of the EU member states was also emphasized.

The further cooperation between Armenia and Spain within the EU was also touched upon.

ECHR conveys information from Azerbaijan regarding kidnapped Nagorno-Karabakh patient

Boris Nahapetian

 18:05, 9 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 9, ARMENPRESS. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has conveyed to Armenia the information provided by Azerbaijan regarding Vagif Khachatryan.

The Office of the Representative of Armenia on International Legal Matters said that the information has been relayed to Khachatryan's family. 

Armenia will submit by August 16 its objections regarding the position presented by Azerbaijan. 

Vagif Khachatryan, a 68-year-old resident of Nagorno-Karabakh, was kidnapped by Azeri border guards on July 29 during his medical evacuation carried out by the International Committee of the Red Cross. He was taken to Baku and faces fabricated charges.

Azeri forces again target farmers in Nagorno-Karabakh, vehicle hit

Arbi Tashjian

 18:45, 9 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 9, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijani military forces have again opened gunfire at farmers in Nagorno-Karabakh, this time in the village of Sarushen, the Nagorno-Karabakh police said in a statement Wednesday.

A civilian vehicle was damaged as a result of the shooting.

“On August 9, the Shosh Precinct of the Askeran Regional Police Department received a report that around 10:50, civilians working in the wheat fields in Sarushen, Askeran came under various caliber small arms fire from Azerbaijani military outposts deployed in the administrative territory of the Sargsashen village, Martuni region. Fortunately no one was hurt,” police said in a statement.

A Ford-Transit vehicle owned by a farmer was damaged.

The agricultural work was suspended and the incident was reported to the Russian peacekeeping command, police added.

Assessments of international human rights organizations should not remain on paper – Nagorno-Karabakh ombudsman

Manouk Vasilian

 18:57, 9 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 9, ARMENPRESS. During the 8-month blockade of Artsakh by Azerbaijan, thanks to the efforts of various actors of Artsakh, Armenia and the Diaspora, it was possible to give a clear and purposeful assessment of the deepening humanitarian crisis in Artsakh by influential international human rights and humanitarian organizations and a number of authoritative experts, the Human Rights Defender of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Gegham Stepanyan said in a statement on August 9.

“Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Freedom House, Global Center for Responsibility to Protect, International Committee of the Red Cross, special rapporteurs of the UN Human Rights Council, Lemkin Institute for the Prevention of Genocide, International Association of Genocide Scholars and a number of other human rights activists expressed their position during this period.

“The statements of all humanitarian and human rights organizations unanimously demand the authorities of Azerbaijan to stop blocking the Lachin corridor, ensure the free and unhindered transportation of people, goods and vehicles along the corridor, and put an end to the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh.

“The Azerbaijani authorities scornfully and brazenly respond to the statements of all the organizations and blatantly show disrespect for everyone as if everyone is lying, only they are right.

“This behavior of Azerbaijan once again demonstrates the simple truth that Azerbaijan has neither commitment, nor desire to fulfill the obligations assumed at the international level, moreover, in front of all structures, it continues to pursue a policy of genocide against the people of Artsakh.

“The assessments of the international human rights organizations should not remain on paper. These addressed statements must become the basis for the positions of various states and international structures on saving the people of Artsakh from starvation, ethnic cleansing and genocide. That is why these structures were created to prevent mass atrocities and violations of human rights.

“The human rights activists have expressed their stance; it is the turn of the political decision-makers in the international arena to prove that they will not allow the criminal authorities of Azerbaijan to question the authority of the international human rights and humanitarian organizations.

“Otherwise, the indifference shown and disregard for authoritative opinion will lead to irreversible human consequences in which international actors will be directly responsible for complicity,” Stepanyan added.

Armenian Human Rights Defender to send ad hoc report on Azeri shootings at Yeraskh steelworks to int’l organizations

Vatche Chakhmakhchian

 19:02, 9 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 9, ARMENPRESS. Today, on August 9, the Human Rights Defender published the English version of an ad hoc report on the continuous violations of human rights as a result of the shootings conducted by the Azerbaijani armed forces in the direction of the Yeraskh settlement of Ararat Province, Armenia.

The ad hoc report presents the violations of fundamental human rights registered by the Defender as a result of the fact-finding activities conducted in the Yeraskh settlement.

The violations of human rights as a result of the shootings conducted by the Azerbaijani armed forces in the direction of the settlement in June 2023 have been registered and analyzed in the ad hoc report. A number of recommendations aimed at solving the issues related to the protection of human rights are also presented in the report.

On June 13-14, 2023, shots were fired from the Azerbaijani combat positions in the direction of the Yeraskh settlement; in particular, the steel mill which is under construction with foreign investment in Yeraskh was intensively and deliberately targeted. As a direct result of the shootings, two Indian citizens were injured and taken to a medical institution.

As a result of the actions of the Azerbaijani armed forces, the civilian population's rights to life, mental and physical integrity, property, education, work, entrepreneurship, and a number of other fundamental rights were violated.

The ad hoc report will be sent to international organizations and actors with a mandate to protect human rights, as well as competent state bodies.

The Armenian version of the Report was published on July 18.

Armenpress: Kim Kardashian, Eric Esrailian raise awareness of former ICC prosecutor’s genocide warning in Nagorno-Karabakh

Eduard Nalbandian

 20:18, 9 August 2023

YEREVAN, AUGUST 9, ARMENPRESS. American reality TV star, entrepreneur Kim Kardashian and UCLA physician, Emmy-nominated film producer Eric Esrailian took to social media to raise awareness of Nagorno-Karabakh and the report issued by a former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court concluding that the Azerbaijani blockade of Lachin Corridor constitutes genocide.

Former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Luis Moreno Ocampo has warned that Azerbaijan is preparing genocide against the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh and called for a U.S. Security Council intervention.

Esrailian, who produced the 2016 historical drama The Promise set during the years of the Armenian Genocide, and who visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan the following year together with filmmaker Terry George, shared the report on Instagram.

Armenian-American media personality Kim Kardashian, who has also personally visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan and in 2021 thanked U.S. President Joe Biden for officially recognizing the 1915 Armenian Genocide, shared Esrailian’s post on Instagram.

“Please share! This report is by Luis Moreno Ocampo – former Chief Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court. He argues Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin corridor should be considered a genocide against the ethnic Armenians of Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh. The government of Azerbaijan is using oil & gas leverage to cleanse the Christian Armenian population from the region. Read & share the report! The link to the full report is in my bio,” Esrailian said.

Asbarez: Artsakh Farmers Again Targeted by Azerbaijani Gunfire

Maral Chavushian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 August 9, 2023

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

An Artsakh farmer's truck was damaged as a result of Azerbaijani attack


Azerbaijani forces continued to target civilian farmers in Artsakh by opening fire at the Sarushen village on Wednesday.

As a result of the shooting a farmer’s vehicle was severely damaged.

“On August 9, the Shosh Precinct of the Askeran Regional Police Department received a report that around 10:50 a.m. (local time), civilians working in the wheat fields in Sarushen, Askeran came under various caliber small arms fire from Azerbaijani military outposts deployed in the administrative territory of the Sargsashen village, Martuni region. Fortunately no one was hurt,” the Artsakh police said in a statement.

All work on the field was suspended and the incident was reported to the Russian peacekeeping command, the statement adde.

In addition to blockading Artsakh through the eight-month-long closure of the Lachin Corridor, Azerbaijani forces, on a regular basis, continue to open fire at civilian targets in Artsakh.

France Joins Humanitarian Aid to Artsakh Through CCAF Initiative

Varazdat Torgomian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 August 9, 2023

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

A truck carrying humanitarian aid from France reaches Syunik on Aug. 9


Through an initiative by the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations in France, the city of Paris, as well as other municipalities in France have donated humanitarian assistance for the people of Artsakh, which arrived in Armenia’s Syunik Province on Wednesday.

Vardan Sargsyan, head of the Armenian government’s emergency task for Artsakh assistance, told reporters that this gesture by France will go a long way of focusing international attention of the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh, resulting from Azerbaijan’s eight-month blockade of the Lachin Corridor.heaa member of the Armenian government working group tasked with responding to th

“I think the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is so critical and the need for humanitarian aid is so vital that it has also become evident to our international partners. Effective steps by the international community can certainly contribute eventually lifting the blockade of Lachin Corridor, and giving access for humanitarian goods to the people of Nagorno-Karabakh,” Sargsyan said.

In addition to Paris, the cities of Île-de-France, Auvergne , Rhône-Alpes , Hauts-de-France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Pays de la Loire and Grand Est have also taken part in providing assistance totaling 20 tons of food.

It has been more than two weeks that convoy of 19 trucks carrying humanitarian assistance from Armenia to Artsakh has been stuck at the entrance of the Hakari Bridge, with Azerbaijani border guards not allowing the Russian peacekeepers to successfully direct the aid to Artsakh.

On Tuesday, a report authored by the former prosecutor general of the International Criminal Court in clear terms said that deliberate starvation of a population constitutes genocide and accused President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and his administration of committing genocide.

Asbarez: Artsakh Calls on International Rights Groups to Take Action Beyond Words

Emil Lazarian
by Asbarez Staff

 

 August 9, 2023

 

in Armenia, Artsakh, Featured Story, Latest, News, Top Stories

Artsakh’s Human Rights Defender Gegham Stepanyan on Wednesday called on influential international rights groups, which have already voiced concern about the deepening humanitarian crisis in Artsakh to take more succinct action to prevent a genocide.

“Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Freedom House, Global Center for Responsibility to Protect, International Committee of the Red Cross, special rapporteurs of the UN Human Rights Council, Lemkin Institute for the Prevention of Genocide, International Association of Genocide Scholars and a number of other human rights activists expressed their position during this period,” said Stepanayan.

“The statements of all humanitarian and human rights organizations unanimously demand the authorities of Azerbaijan to stop blocking the Lachin corridor, ensure the free and unhindered transportation of people, goods and vehicles along the corridor, and put an end to the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh,” added the rights defender.

“The Azerbaijani authorities scornfully and brazenly respond to the statements of all the organizations and blatantly show disrespect for everyone as if everyone is lying, only they are right,” Stepanyan explained. “Azerbaijan’s behavior once again demonstrates the simple truth that Azerbaijan has neither the will nor the desire to fulfill the obligations it has assumed at the international level. Furthermore, it openly and in front of all these structures, it continues to pursue a policy of genocide against the people of Artsakh.”

“The assessments of the international human rights organizations should not remain on paper. These addressed statements must become the basis for the positions of various states and international structures on saving the people of Artsakh from starvation, ethnic cleansing and genocide. That is why these structures were created to prevent mass atrocities and violations of human rights,” emphasized Stepanyan.

“The human rights activists have expressed their stance; it is the turn of the political decision-makers in the international arena to prove that they will not allow the criminal authorities of Azerbaijan to question the authority of the international human rights and humanitarian organizations,” urged the rights advocate.

“Otherwise, the indifference shown and disregard for authoritative opinion will lead to irreversible human consequences in which international actors will be directly responsible for complicity,” Stepanyan said.

AW: Astghashen: Mysterious Village of Artsakh

Hambik Zargarian
August 9, 2023 Vahagn Khachatrian Photography, Special Reports 0

(Photo: Vahagn Khachatrian) (Photo: Vahagn Khachatrian)

One of the exceptional and mysterious villages of Artsakh, Astghashen, is known for its star-shaped stones from which the village got its name, which appear on the ground especially after rain. Originally the name of this village was Qaraghbyur. Later it was renamed by the Azerbaijanis, but in 1988, the village was named Artsakhashen, and after some time the village got its name, Astghashen.

Fossilized animals and petrified remains of wood were found in the vicinity of the village. The star-shaped stones have a history of 145-165 million years.

(Photo: Vahagn Khachatrian)

According to specialists, the territory of the village used to be an ocean, and the star-shaped fossils are star-shaped bones belonging to the plant species of sea lilies.

(Photo: Vahagan Khachatrian)

These mysterious stones changed the village into a tourist destination, and the territory is under the control of the country as a place of cultural and historical significance.

(Photo: Vahagn Khachatrian)

Many tourists from all over the world used to visit the village and collect star-stones, but the number of tourists declined after the war. Today, visitors of Astghashen are locals from Artsakh.

(Photo: Vahagn Khachatrian)

The village is located 20 km. from Stepanakert in the Askeran region. Besides the star-shaped stones, the village is also rich with its churches and holy places like Frangyulac, Kapenkhach, Chmanekhach and Yere Nhatak. A holy liturgy is held at St. Gevorg church (built in the 19th century) every Sunday.

(Photo: Vahagn Khachatrian)

The road leading to the village was paved after the war. Astghashen has a village administration, a house of culture, a medical center, a kindergarten, an art school and a newly-built secondary school with all the necessary conditions. Construction of residential houses for displaced people started after the war. 

The village wasn’t damaged during the war. After the war, many displaced families resettled there.

“All displaced and resettled families of the village were provided with houses, parts of which were completely renovated. All of them have become a part of the village’s society. Some of them are working on construction sites, and some of them are doing different hired jobs. The displaced are mostly from the region of Hadrut, but we also have people from Avetaranots, Jraghatsner and Tigranakert,” said the head of the village, Arthur Grigorian.

(Photo: Vahagn Khachatrian)

The main occupations of the villagers are animal husbandry and farming. The latter is more developed. There are only a few herdsmen in the village. According to Grigorian, the blockade has promoted farming.

(Photo: Vahagn Khachatrian)

“People got engaged in the cultivation of vegetable crops. There are almost no uncultivated lands near the houses. All of them have been cultivated by the villagers so that they can solve the problem of food security themselves. Due to the heating problems, two families are engaged in greenhouse agriculture, growing greens, tomatoes and cucumbers,” Grigorian said.

Head of Astghashen village, Arthur Grigorian (Photo: Vahagn Khachatrian)

According to Grigorian, the level of unemployment among the youth of the village isn’t high. “Now, most of the youth are working in military units and newly-established modern gardens. Perhaps only 20-percent of the youth don’t have primary jobs, but the others manage to work and provide for their families,” he said.

(Photo: Vahagn Khachatrian)

Speaking about the main problems of the village, Grigorian mentioned the lack of irrigation water and the need to repair the house of culture.

“The main issue is the lack of irrigation water. The village is provided with permanent drinking water, which is also used for the irrigation of households. Among the problems that require a solution is the need of repairing the house of culture, about which we informed the government. A lot of money is poured into building new buildings. We have mentioned several times, it isn’t worth so much money. The house of culture and the library need repairing,” Grigorian concluded.

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Vahagn Khachatrian was born on October 2, 1999 in the Republic of Artsakh. He graduated with a degree in economics from Artsakh State University. Vahagn is a member of the ARF Artsakh Youth Organization Central Department and a leader in the ARF Artsakh Junior Organization. He is also a journalist for Aparaj newspaper.