Azerbaijan Must Bear Responsibility for Crimes During COVID-19, Tatoyan

Azerbaijani authorities have committed crimes against humanity through large-scale armed attacks against Artsakh and Armenia during the COVID-19 pandemic. This fact is substantiated by a new urgent report in English published by Armenia's Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan.

“This urgent report from the Human Rights Defender evidences, with specific examples and professional analysis, the crimes committed by Azerbaijan against humanity in the context of the COVID-19 humanitarian disaster,” Tatoyan stated.

The urgent report notes that despite statements from the UN Secretary-General and the Security Council urging an immediate cessation of hostilities in all circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Azerbaijani authorities initiated war from September to November 2020, endangering the life and health of the entire population of Artsakh by deliberately causing death and suffering. It has also significantly contributed to the increase in mortality rates in Armenia.

All of this has been carried out by accelerating the rapid spread of the deadly virus and pushing the healthcare system towards a complete breakdown. Thus, between March 1 and September 26, there were 49,400 recorded cases of COVID-19, while during the war from September 27 to November 9, this number rose to 59,287.

In terms of mortality rates, there were 951 deaths recorded in the seven months prior to the war, while during the war, the number rose to 658. These documented facts further corroborate the Human Rights Defender's claims that Azerbaijani authorities must be held accountable for war crimes, as impunity breeds new and more brutal crimes. The report will be sent to relevant international bodies and state institutions of Armenia,” the Human Rights Defender stated.