Azerbaijani Soldiers Threaten Shepherds in Armenia with Weapons, MIP Details

The Human Rights Defender of Armenia has confirmed through fact-finding missions in Gegharkunik and Syunik that on May 12 and 13, Azerbaijani armed forces, unlawfully present in the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia, threatened border residents who are shepherds with weapons.

Specifically, in Syunik, on the morning of May 12, Azerbaijani armed personnel approached a shepherd tending his flock near the territory of Lake Sevan, threatened him, and demanded he leave his pasture and livestock pen, showing a display of weapons.

Fact-finding work by the Human Rights Defender has shown that the shepherd's pasture is located within an area frequently used by residents from Akner, Verishen, and other villages, extending from Lake Sevan to Verishen, with Lake Sevan itself being located within the territory of Armenia.

In Gegharkunik, around May 12, about 10 Azerbaijani armed personnel approached a shepherd near the village of Verin Shorja and threatened him with displayed weapons, speaking to him in Armenian.

On the same day, when six shepherds from Vardenis and Ayrk were grazing their livestock in the vicinity of the same water basin located on Armenian territory, dozens of Azerbaijani armed personnel approached them, threatened them with weapons, and gave them 5 minutes to leave, threatening to kidnap them if they did not comply.

On May 13, about 50 Azerbaijani servicemen again threatened the shepherd from Verin Shorja with weapons and demanded he leave, threatening to kill or abduct him if he did not.

Additionally, on May 12, a shepherd from the village of Kut discovered around 50 Azerbaijani armed personnel while attending to his livestock near his pasture, adjacent to the village.

During the visit of the Human Rights Defender, it was determined that the pastures are allocated to individuals under rental agreements from local authorities. This indicates unlawful deprivation of rights based on legal grounds.

The shepherds claim they no longer have the opportunity to utilize the pastures. Residents of Kut, for instance, mentioned that they can no longer send their animals to the pastures.

The issue is that Azerbaijani military personnel are physically present in pastures owned legally by individuals, making it impossible for some to use these areas due to the risk of being targeted by Azerbaijani gunfire.

Furthermore, the shepherds informed that they are unable to approach the pastures, as Azerbaijani military personnel open fire when they attempt to do so. This also pertains to hayfields.

The circumstances mentioned by the shepherds have been corroborated by additional evidence obtained by the Human Rights Defender, including documents of pasture usage, local investigations, and relevant photographs.

The fact-finding operations of the Human Rights Defender on May 12 and 13, 2021, confirm that Azerbaijani military personnel, being armed, have committed criminal acts against border residents, threatening to kill or abduct unarmed civilians, and unlawfully demanding that they vacate the pastures and livestock pens, which are legally allocated to them by authorized Armenian entities.

Azerbaijani armed personnel have violated the internationally recognized and constitutionally enshrined rights of Armenian border residents, including the rights to life, physical and mental integrity, property, and other vital rights. Moreover, they have engaged with civilians while wearing masks.

It is evident that to protect Armenian border residents from such unlawful acts, a security zone must be established around Gegharkunik and Syunik along all border sections with Azerbaijan. The concern is that these actions are not isolated incidents. Recent fact-finding missions by the Human Rights Defender have documented further violations of the rights of border shepherds by Azerbaijani military personnel.