An Security Zone Must Be Established Around the Syunik Region to Guarantee the Rights of Border Residents - Ombudsman

The Syunik region of Armenia must have a security zone established to ensure the rights of Armenian citizens, particularly those living in border areas.

This primarily means that: 1) there must be no Azerbaijani armed forces or border troops stationed near or on the roads between the communities of the Syunik region. 2) There must be no Azerbaijani signs and flags on the roads between the communities of the Syunik region. 3) They must be removed by at least 10 kilometers from the areas where they are currently located. 4) The Armenian armed forces or border troops, who are the guarantors of the lives, property, and other essential rights of Armenian citizens, should be stationed directly opposite the locations of the Azerbaijani troops. 5) The security zone must be fully accessible to Armenian residents to restore their disrupted normal life in border settlements. This includes unrestricted access to water and other natural resources, forests, and agricultural lands within the security zone, including pastures and hayfields. 6) The assumptions or claims that the current Azerbaijani positions are based on the division of the Soviet state border are unfounded.

Due to the current Azerbaijani positions in Syunik, which have emerged under the threat of war, the rights of Armenian citizens regarding property, economic activities, and other rights have been grossly violated, as well as significant threats to life, mental and physical integrity, dignity, and other vital rights. It concerns rights internationally recognized and guaranteed by the Constitution of Armenia. Moreover, just a question: who said that the current Azerbaijani positions in Syunik are on their state borders? There has been neither demarcation nor delimitation between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and what exists is entirely accompanied by gross violations of international law, including human rights requirements.

This security zone concept is based on human rights. I have detailed justifications provided in my press conference on March 5, 2021, and in the near future, the finalized version of the concept will be sent as a report to international bodies. The report will concern the Syunik region and, with certain specifics, also the Gegharkunik region. I presented the details of the concept to the President of Armenia on March 17, 2021, and I consider the President's acknowledgment important: 'There has been no official demarcation and delimitation between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which means that the process of determining state borders is legally uncertain at this moment. This is further compounded by violations of the rights of Armenian citizens in Syunik or the substantial threat to those rights.'

This significant official stance was also communicated to the Human Rights Defender by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, which we published on December 30, 2020.

Arman Tatoyan
Human Rights Defender of Armenia