Ombudsman Proposes to Create a Demilitarized Security Zone in Syunik

A demilitarized security zone should be established in the Syunik province of Armenia. This proposal comes from the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan.

During a press conference today, he presented the reasons behind this concept. According to Tatoyan, Azerbaijani armed forces continue firing shots at peaceful settlements in Syunik. He showed journalists a video showing how Azerbaijani forces are shooting in the midlands of the villages of Agarak and Yeghvard in the Kapan community during daylight hours.

According to the Defender, local residents have reported that the enemy's gunfire is ongoing. “Recently, Azerbaijani armed forces have also fired shots towards Nernik Hand, Agarak, Yeghvard, Shikahogh, Srashen, and several other villages,” he stated.

Arman Tatoyan added that there are real dangers to the right to life in Syunik and Gegharkunik, along with gross violations of human dignity. “For instance, I witnessed in the village of Nernik Hand that the school is 500 meters away from the Azerbaijani military positions, and shots are fired there. Can any international organization or body tell me whether this is a situation that serves the best interests of children?”

The Ombudsman also reported that there are gross violations of property rights. Despite having legal documents, people are unable to live in their own homes. “People cannot use their properties due to the fact that they are Azerbaijani, and in some cases, there are lands or houses that are directly targeted, and people simply cannot use those lands because shots are being fired,” Tatoyan explained.

The Defender emphasized that one of the key principles in the process of determining borders is the rule of law, democracy, and human rights. “All processes related to border issues, recognized by international human rights law, must be based on human rights. This is not an alternative demand but a requirement; human rights must be at the forefront,” he said, adding that if the principle of human rights is not upheld, the process will collapse.

Tatoyan presented international principles that should be mandatorily applied. “Mandatory international principles include respect for the dignity of border residents and their protected rights, ensuring the normal life of border residents, security, peace, accountability, and sufficient information. All this must be ensured through specialized commission work that must be conducted in advance.”

Regarding the protection of property rights, Tatoyan stated that the Ombudsman’s office has studied and highlighted the judicial practice of the International Court of Justice, which states that cadastre documents must be at the basis of the border determination process. “Cadastre documents should form the basis of the border determination process. There are even places where they should have priority because at the core is the right of the individual. I look at it from the human perspective – I have documents received from the state, which deprive me of my home or land due to some inter-state process. Here, in terms of accountability, regarding the Azerbaijani side, these documents must be used in discussions and negotiations,” emphasized Tatoyan.

The Defender also mentioned that the use of cadastre documents is discussed in the special guidelines of the OSCE and the UN.

Tatoyan talked about the high level of anti-Armenian sentiment in Azerbaijan, quoting certain parts of public statements made by the President of Azerbaijan. “Armenia is a country with no value; in reality, it is a territory governed from abroad for a long time.” “It is an artificial state established on Azerbaijani lands.” “Azerbaijani soldiers expel Armenians like dogs.” He stressed that the President of Azerbaijan is the supreme commander of the soldiers who are shooting towards Syunik. “These soldiers who are firing, is not the president of Azerbaijan their supreme commander? Are these not the words of their supreme commander, that they must come to Zangezur, must come to Yerevan? This is fundamentally important for the concept that we are advancing.”

Tatoyan asserted that there will be no talk of peaceful coexistence between the two nations as long as hate speech and the threat of war persist, emphasizing ongoing reports of Azerbaijani soldiers beheading, humiliating, and torturing Armenian captives. “In these circumstances, can you imagine peaceful coexistence? Also add the ongoing psychological suffering that Azerbaijan deliberately causes, for instance, the artificial delays in the return of captives, right? Do they not know that they cause psychological suffering to their own people? This is a form of torture.”

The concept, as indicated, is to have a demilitarized security zone in Syunik, with an area of 5 to 7 kilometers. “This is a calculation based on evidence. It is primarily grounded in the types of weapons fired by representatives of the Azerbaijani armed forces. Considering the problematic nature of questions about roadways and the protection of people’s rights, the demilitarized security zone should be at least 5 kilometers.”

In conclusion, the Ombudsman stated that this issue needs to be resolved by the international community. “I presented the issues to international organizations. The international community has serious work to do here. This issue belongs to the international community because it fundamentally contradicts everything they have created over the years, the guidelines, conventions, human rights demands; it all has been undermined.”