Arman Tatoyan: Rights to Water for Residents of Armenia's Meghri Community Grossly Violated

The rights to water, which are vital to the residents of Armenia's Meghri community, are being grossly violated by the actions of Azerbaijani armed forces and governmental bodies, in clear breach of international absolute prohibitions. This was stated by Armenia's Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan on his Facebook page.

"The internationally guaranteed right to water for residents of Meghri community in Syunik province is continuously and seriously violated by deliberate actions of Azerbaijani armed forces. The Human Rights Defender has received alarming reports from residents of Meghri expressing outrage and concern that, over five years ago, Azerbaijani armed forces altered the flow of the 'Meghri' river's 'Zvaraget' tributary toward Nakhichevan (Ordubad region). As a result, serious issues have arisen concerning access to drinking and irrigation water in the cities of Meghri and Agarak, as well as in the villages of Nrnadzor, Shvanidzor, and Alvank, where the majority of Meghri's population resides.

In relation to this issue, the head of the Meghri community is also expected to provide necessary information. Additionally, the delegation led by the Human Rights Defender received these alarming reports during its visit to the Meghri community in January 2021.

The matter at hand is that the drinking and irrigation water for the inhabitants of Meghri community has historically been supplied by the 'Meghri' river. The 'Zvaraget' or 'Ayrijur' tributary originates from an elevation of approximately 3,500 meters above sea level, on the southeastern slopes of the Zangezur mountains, and then joins the main 'Meghri' river. Thanks to the melting snow, from around August each year, Zvaraget becomes water-rich, which allows for the continuous supply of drinking and irrigation water for the mentioned settlements in Meghri community.

Without this, the 'Meghri' river only provides water supply from the beginning of the year until June-July, after which it becomes severely depleted, and in the area of Meghri town, the river entirely dries up, causing significant damage to the surrounding environment.

Residents and the head of the Meghri community have informed the Human Rights Defender that Azerbaijani military personnel are creating barriers with special engineering equipment every month to alter the tributary's flow toward Nakhichevan. This means that serious problems arise each year starting from August for the residents of Meghri and Agarak, as well as Nrnadzor, Shvanidzor, and Alvank villages concerning access to drinking and irrigation water.

Moreover, all these actions are carried out under a real threat to the lives of the people, as the origin of the 'Zvaraget' tributary to the 'Meghri' river is directly in the line of fire of Azerbaijani soldiers and is monitored by them.

The actions of Azerbaijani armed forces and governmental bodies grossly violate the internationally guaranteed right to water, which is vital for the residents of Armenia's Meghri community. The right to water is internationally guaranteed and includes the human right to sufficient and continuous water for both drinking and domestic purposes (irrigation, hygiene, etc.). Furthermore, there must be a safe opportunity for access to water and full availability. This right is of exceptional value and forms the foundation of the rights to life, health, dignity, private life, and other vital human rights.

This right is so fundamental that the United Nations has declared the right to water and sanitation as a global sustainable development goal, considering the essential, irreplaceable significance of water for human development and the organization of life. The UN Secretary-General has defined this right as a millennium development goal.

The described actions of the Azerbaijani armed forces also grossly violate the 1992 Helsinki Convention on the Use and Protection of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes and other international instruments.

Currently, Armenia's Human Rights Defender's office is compiling analyses and assessments regarding the continuous and serious violations of the internationally guaranteed rights of Armenian residents by Azerbaijani armed forces, which will be sent to international and, primarily, specialized bodies, as well as to the competent authorities of the Republic of Armenia.