Kut Village and School Under Azerbaijani Military Targeting, Arman Tatoyan

The team led by the Human Rights Defender has recorded that Kut village and its school are under the targeting of Azerbaijani military personnel. This was reported by Armenia’s Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan during his visit to Gegharkunik.

The working group headed by the Ombudsman conducted fact-finding activities in Kut village. The Ombudsman visited the area accompanied by Gegharkunik governor Gnel Sanosyan and Vardenis community leader Aram Melkonyan. It was revealed that Azerbaijani soldiers unlawfully advanced towards Armenian territory towards civilian settlements, citing blatantly forged maps.

During the visit, the Human Rights Defender held discussions with the villagers, most of whom are engaged in livestock farming. One of Kut’s shepherds informed the Defender that on May 12, while grazing animals, he noticed Azerbaijani soldiers in the nearby mountains who, through the display of weapons and criminal threats, demanded he immediately leave the grazing area and exhibited aggressive behavior. The shepherd, with the help of another villager, was able to quickly bring the animals down from the mountain. Notably, the grazing area is located within the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia.

Residents reported that Kut village and the school are under Azerbaijani targeting. The presence of Azerbaijani armed forces in their grazing areas and neighboring their settlement poses danger to their lives and security, disrupting their mental peace. Some villagers are unable to use the grazing areas, continue livestock farming—which is a source of income for their families—and cannot keep large and small cattle in the livestock barns at grazing sites, or provide them with water to drink or graze. Access to water resources for irrigation purposes is also at risk.

The working group led by the Ombudsman has confirmed that Kut village and the school are under the targeting of Azerbaijani military personnel. The described illegal actions by Azerbaijani soldiers emphasize the absolute necessity of a security zone aimed at ensuring the rights of residents in the border areas of Armenia. The results of the fact-finding work will be summarized and sent to international bodies.