Azerbaijani Soldiers Continue to Fire Near Villages in Syunik Province

Azerbaijani soldiers continue to open fire near villages in Syunik Province. This was reported by the Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan on his Facebook page, stating that local residents and community bodies have informed him during visits to Syunik communities yesterday and today.

According to residents, gunfire is being fired both during the day and at night, clearly heard in the villages, with the aim of terrorizing the peaceful inhabitants, especially children and women. In addition to the gunfire, the presence of Azerbaijani soldiers on roads connecting areas such as Kapan to Chakatent, as well as Goris to Shurnukh, Vorotan, and other communities has seriously disrupted the free movement of peaceful residents and citizens of Armenia.

Because of this situation, villagers are forced to avoid traveling these roads in the evening hours for essential needs (such as going to work or a medical facility) due to safety concerns for themselves and their families. The presence of Azerbaijani soldiers poses a threat to the physical safety of the village residents. Beyond physical integrity, it also violates their mental integrity. On that road, artificial Azerbaijani signs and flags have been placed, serving as a pretext for the deployment of Azerbaijani soldiers under the guise of security.

Residents of the villages (including Davit Bek, Kaghunut, Vorotan, Khnatsakh, Shikahog, Chakatent, and others) have once again noted that due to their presence near the villages, it has become impossible to access hay fields, pastures, and private land (which are sources of income), even in the presence of legally valid cadastre documents. For example, residents of Srashen village informed the Human Rights Defender that shots had been fired even when a villager was seen working on his land with the naked eye.

It is evident that protecting the rights of peaceful residents in Syunik Province requires the urgent establishment of a security zone. The deployments of Azerbaijani soldiers near villages and roads in the Syunik Province of Armenia, including the flags and signs, lack any legal basis and must be removed from these areas,” wrote the Human Rights Defender of Armenia.