Border Delimitation with Azerbaijan Without Creating a Security Zone Will Lead to New Violations of Rights and Increased Tensions: Human Rights Defender

I warn that border delimitation with Azerbaijan, without establishing a security zone, will not only fail to ensure the rights of citizens of the Republic of Armenia, particularly those living near the border, but will also become a cause of new violations of rights and increased tensions. This was stated by the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan, on his Facebook page.

“As the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia, I warn the authorities that the border delimitation with Azerbaijan—without establishing a security zone—will not secure the rights of citizens of the Republic of Armenia, particularly those living near the border. The situation will exacerbate violations of rights and increase tensions, as long as the following conditions exist:

1. The Azerbaijani high authorities have not only not ceased their policies but have intensified hostility descending into hatred and fascism toward the entire population of Armenia and the entire Armenian people.
2. In the same vein, the President of Azerbaijan constantly speaks in a threatening language about our country and its entire population.
3. Azerbaijani authorities continue to deliberately inflict psychological suffering on the families of Armenian captives and the missing, violating the rights of captives by not disclosing their actual numbers and failing to return them to their homeland.
4. The real danger of recurrence of Azerbaijani cruelty against Armenian civilians and servicemen during the war has not vanished, and no one has been held accountable for the events that occurred.
5. Azerbaijani armed personnel are illegally present in the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia, in Gegharkunik and Syunik, disturbing the psychological peace of Armenian society.
6. Azerbaijani armed personnel continue to grossly violate the rights of border residents near the villages of Gegharkunik and Syunik (threatening Armenian citizens with the display of weapons, shepherds being deprived of access to their lands and pastures, periodic gunfire near Armenian villages, etc.).
7. Between the communities of Syunik, gross violations of rights and provocations are recorded on the roads (hitting an Armenian civilian vehicle with stones on the Goris-Kapan road, tugging at a shepherd from Aravus and hitting his eye, blocking the road from Kapan to the village of Jakatun with an Azerbaijani vehicle, not returning animals that crossed into areas under Azerbaijani control to the residents of the Republic of Armenia, among other incidents).

Ongoing violations of the rights of citizens of the Republic of Armenia are evident with the placement of Azerbaijani signs and flags, military personnel along those roads, causing psychological pressure and fear, restricting the free movement of people, etc.

It is worth noting that delimitation generally has fundamental importance for any country. It is also a guarantee of human rights. However, delimitation may take years, if not decades. As long as the above conditions exist, the urgent need to guarantee the rights of border residents and citizens of the Republic of Armenia demands the establishment of a security zone around all border sections with Azerbaijan, particularly in Gegharkunik and Syunik.

Thus, delimitation can be carried out after or at least in parallel with the establishment of a security zone. In order to restore the normal life and rights of citizens of the Republic of Armenia, particularly those living near the border, Azerbaijani armed personnel, flags, and signs must be removed from the vicinity of Armenian villages and the roads between communities.

Otherwise, the delimitation process alone will not achieve its intended purpose, including the protection of human rights. In such a case, delimitation will accompany new violations of the rights of citizens of the Republic of Armenia and particularly those living near the border, leading to tensions within society. This, in turn, will disturb the prospects of peace and safety for people in the region,” wrote the Human Rights Defender.