What Maps Azerbaijani Soldiers Keep in Their Special Notebooks: Human Rights Defender

RA Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan wrote on his Facebook page: These are maps that Azerbaijani soldiers keep in their special notebooks. In these maps, a significant part of the Republic of Armenia is represented as part of Azerbaijan's historical territory. These have been recorded by the staff of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia during ongoing monitoring.

These maps are accompanied by texts that clearly do not correspond to reality, which are directly based on the themes of organized hatred and enmity promoted by the Azerbaijani authorities. Moreover, these texts are accompanied by expressions that fuel deep hatred towards Armenians, such as: “This country is mine, yours, ours,” “A respectable citizen should not tolerate the desecration of symbols,” “Symbols must be preserved as the honor, respect, and dignity of the country,” “All symbols are sacred,” and other formulations.

For example, one of these texts mentions: “When the Russian Empire collapsed, the territory of Azerbaijan was 130 thousand square kilometers, and from 1918 to 1920, the territory of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was 114 thousand square kilometers. During the USSR period, 10.9 thousand square kilometers were given to Russia (Derbend Khanate, 7 thousand square kilometers) and Armenians (up to 1923, the regions of Zangezur, Yeghegnadzor, Sevan, Dilijan, border villages, 40 square kilometers in 1946, 7.6 square kilometers from Tovuz in 1969, approximately 50 square kilometers from Qazakh). Georgia was given 9.5 thousand square kilometers, a total of 27.4 thousand square kilometers at various times. Of the remaining 86.6 thousand square kilometers, 13.110 square kilometers is still occupied.”

All of this directly relates to the competence of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, as it pertains to the guarantee of the right to life, property, and other rights of the entire population of Armenia, protecting them from torture and inhumane treatment. Such organized propaganda has over the years established an institutional system of promoting hatred and enmity based on ethnic affiliation towards Armenians in Azerbaijan.

The examination by the Human Rights Defender shows that among the main reasons why Azerbaijani armed forces committed and continue to commit war crimes and atrocities against humanity during the wars in April 2016 and September-November 2020, and in other time periods, are these factors (decapitations, executions, torture, etc.).

According to expert analyses of videos demonstrating these atrocities by the staff of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, it is confirmed that Azerbaijani soldiers use expressions that stem from the aforementioned propaganda theses as a source of inspiration when torturing or killing Armenian soldiers or civilians, or mutilating the bodies of the deceased.

All of this is documented with real and concrete evidence obtained by the Human Rights Defender of Armenia. It is evident that under these challenging circumstances, we need more than ever unity and solidarity, mutual respect, and the exclusion of any kind of development that leads to tension within our country for the protection of the rights of each of us and our entire people.

The international community, especially international organizations with a mandate to protect human rights, must take decisive steps to prevent the condemnable propaganda of hatred and enmity against Armenians based on ethnic affiliation, which is conducted using information that blatantly contradicts reality. They must prove that they are true to their missions and continue to adhere to the international norms they have established.

All of this, together with relevant analysis, will be summarized in the staff of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia and sent to international bodies, as well as, of course, provided to the corresponding structures in Armenia.