Human Rights Defender Releases Statement on Soldiers' Abduction Near Kut Village

The Human Rights Defender has received a report from a resident of the village of Kut in the Gegharkunik province of Armenia regarding an armed incident that occurred early this morning near the village. Gunfire was heard in the village, and Azerbaijani armed forces have allegedly abducted Armenian servicemen. The Human Rights Defender's office stated, “The alert mentioned that these actions by the Azerbaijani armed forces have further heightened tensions in the village.”

Investigations by the Human Rights Defender’s staff, including the Gegharkunik division, have confirmed that the incident took place directly adjacent to the village of Kut. The incident has caused escalated tensions among the civilian population as well, which has also been corroborated by the community leader.

Information regarding the incident has been published in mass media. The Armenian Ministry of Defense has also released an official statement indicating that six servicemen of the Armenian Armed Forces were engaged in engineering work when they were surrounded and captured by Azerbaijani forces.

The Human Rights Defender has recorded multiple instances that since May 12, Azerbaijani military personnel have been illegally advancing into Armenia’s sovereign territory, citing false maps, and have been encroaching upon civilian areas in Gegharkunik and Syunik.

Criminal actions by Azerbaijani military personnel that grossly violate the rights of Armenian border residents have been documented, including threats with weapons against shepherds in Syunik and Gegharkunik, and gunfire near villages.

The actions of the Azerbaijani armed forces today, occurring in close proximity to civilian residences in Armenia, seriously endanger the lives and health of the residents of the Gegharkunik province, as well as their physical safety and mental integrity.

The conduct of Azerbaijani servicemen should be considered within the broader context of a deliberate intention witnessed on May 12 and 13 to threaten shepherds in Gegharkunik and Syunik with displays of weaponry, provoke tensions in border areas adjacent to villages, and deprive border residents of their legal rights to utilize their grasslands and pastures.

Similar periodic provocations and violations of rights against the Armenian civilian population by Azerbaijani servicemen have also been recorded by the Human Rights Defender after the hostilities ceased - noted in reports and communications prior to May 12.

International organizations must take into serious account the real connections between these factors and reassess who is truly undermining peace and quiet in the region, as well as the underlying causes of human rights violations and atrocities.

This further affirms that the Azerbaijani authorities are obligated to immediately release the six citizens of Armenia who have been captured.