Human Rights Defender of Armenia Calls for Attention from International Human Rights Organizations

The Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia informs that residents of the villages of Movses and several other communities in the Tavush region of the Republic of Armenia have reported to the Human Rights Defender's staff that Azerbaijani armed forces began shelling the Tavush region around 11 PM on July 12.

The Human Rights Defender's staff received similar reports also during daylight hours on July 12.

According to the citizens of Movses village, the shots fired by the Azerbaijani side are being fired at a distance very close to the village. According to the assessments of peaceful residents, the shelling is conducted in a manner that creates a real threat of harm to the civilian settlement, to their health and lives, and to their properties.

Immediately following these reports, the Human Rights Defender noted the public official statement from the Minister of Defense of Armenia regarding the artillery shelling of the positions of the Armenian armed forces by the Azerbaijani side.

In addition, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia confirmed in response to the Human Rights Defender's urgent official inquiry that the shelling is occurring in the immediate vicinity of peaceful settlements in the Tavush region of the Republic of Armenia, and there is a real threat of causing harm to those settlements.

The Human Rights Defender's staff maintains direct communication with the residents of border villages in Tavush and the administrative bodies of the communities.

As an independent national institution for human rights, the Human Rights Defender strongly condemns the shelling, especially since it occurs in the immediate vicinity of peaceful settlements in the Republic of Armenia, posing a real threat to the health, lives, and properties of the residents of those settlements. This phenomenon is even more reprehensible in the context of the new type of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Human Rights Defender calls the attention of international human rights organizations to these facts and informs that a targeted observation has been initiated, the results of which will be summarized and sent to international institutions in accordance with established procedures.