We Must Not Allow Ourselves to Be Deceived by Azerbaijan's False Peace, Arman Tatoyan Says

Peace is of utmost value to us, but we must not allow ourselves to be deceived by Azerbaijan's false peace. This was stated by the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan, on his Facebook page.

"I want to emphasize once again that delimitation with Azerbaijan, without a security zone, will not only fail to protect the rights of Armenian citizens—especially those living on the border—but will also lead to new violations and increased tension as long as the following conditions exist:

1. The Azerbaijani government has not only failed to stop but has even intensified its policy of anti-Armenian hatred and hostility reaching the level of fascism against the entire population of Armenia and the Armenian people. This speaks to a real genocidal policy.
2. Following the same principle, the President of Azerbaijan constantly speaks in threats regarding our country and its entire population. He takes pride in the fact that an entire generation has grown up with feelings of hatred and enmity.
3. The Azerbaijani authorities deliberately continue to inflict psychological suffering on the families of Armenian captives and the missing, violating the rights of prisoners by withholding their true numbers and not returning them to their homeland.
4. The real danger of repeating the atrocities against the civilian population and military personnel from the Armenian side during the war persists, and no one has taken responsibility for what has happened.
5. Azerbaijani armed forces are illegally present in Armenia's sovereign territory—in Gegharkunik and Syunik—disrupting the psychological peace of Armenian society.
6. In the vicinity of villages in Gegharkunik and Syunik, Azerbaijani armed forces continue to grossly violate the rights of border residents (threatening Armenian citizens—herders—using weapons, people are deprived of access to their lands and pastures, periodic shootings near Armenian villages, etc.).
7. Grave violations and provocations of rights are recorded on the roads between communities in Syunik (attacking Armenian civilian vehicles with stones on the Goris-Kapan road, pulling and hitting an Aravus herder in the eye, blocking the road from Kapan to the village of Jakatun with an Azerbaijani vehicle, and other incidents, such as the non-return of animals that crossed into areas under Azerbaijani control).

On these roads, the continued placement of Azerbaijani signs, flags, and soldiers is regularly violating the rights of Armenian citizens (creating psychological tension and fear, restricting people's free movement, etc.).

Demarcation is fundamentally important for any country. It is also a guarantee of human rights. However, delimitation may take years, if not decades, and as long as the above conditions exist, the urgent need to guarantee the rights of border residents and Armenian citizens requires the establishment of a security zone around Gegharkunik and Syunik at all border sections with Azerbaijan.

Delimitation can only take place after the creation of a security zone or at least concurrently, the concept of which we are currently summarizing.

To restore the disrupted normal life and rights of Armenian citizens, especially those living near the border, Azerbaijani armed forces, flags, and signs must be removed from the vicinity of Armenian villages and the roads between communities. Without this, delimitation will only lead to further violations of the rights of Armenian citizens and especially those living on the border, increasing tensions in society.

None of this will guarantee peace in the region," Tatoyan concluded.