Azerbaijanis Assault Shepherd, Pull His Ears, Threaten with Display of Weapons: Human Rights Defender on Situation in Syunik

The Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan, has issued a statement detailing the alarming signals received from border villages in the Syunik region and the outcomes of investigations conducted in response. The statement addresses reports from the villages of Khnatsakh, Khuznayar, Aravus, Verishen, and Akner regarding the violation of fundamental rights of border residents due to the illegal presence of Azerbaijani armed forces.

Specifically, a report from Aravus on May 23, 2021, indicated that Azerbaijani soldiers took away 42 heads of cattle from local shepherds. Following negotiations involving the commander of the first army corps of the RA Ministry of Defense, Russian soldiers, and local officials, 37 of the animals were returned. This incident was also covered in the media.

Concerning this case, the Human Rights Defender has established that on May 23, at around 10-11 am, several Azerbaijani armed servicemen approached two shepherds grazing their livestock in the pasture of Aravus village. Initially, they struck one of the shepherds and knocked him off his horse, stealing his mobile phone in the process. Subsequently, they directed lewd insults at the other shepherd, a 65-year-old man, demanding that he cease grazing in that pasture.

The shepherd asserted that the pastures belong to Aravus village and are within the territory of Armenia, insisting they would continue to graze their livestock there. In response, the Azerbaijani soldiers threatened the shepherds with weapons and one soldier grabbed the 65-year-old shepherd by the ears attempting to hit him with his head. Afterwards, they took away 42 large livestock, 2 horses, the mobile phone of one of the shepherds, and departed.

It has been noted that out of the 42 animals, 37 were returned, while the 2 horses and the phone were not returned, resulting in 5 bulls remaining unaccounted for. Subsequently, 2 of the bulls escaped and returned even though Azerbaijani soldiers tried to prevent this, while 3 bulls have not been returned.

In addition to this incident, on May 30, around 3 PM, Azerbaijani soldiers threw stones at the shepherd of Aravus village and the livestock grazing in the pasture belonging to the village, and threatened the shepherd with a show of weapons while shouting loudly. Other village residents also received threats in Azerbaijani and Russian languages.

The information has been verified and confirmed through individual interviews with residents of Aravus as well as local self-governance authorities. Concerning Aravus, the Human Rights Defender's office also discovered that the Azerbaijani armed forces have illegally occupied a pasture and hayfield area of 64 hectares that forms part of Armenia's territory. This illegal occupation has severely violated the rights of the residents of Aravus, preventing them from using these pastures and hayfields.

There is an urgent need for the villagers to utilize these lands due to seasonal requirements. On May 30, the Human Rights Defender received a report that a shepherd from Khnatsakh village faced threats from Azerbaijani soldiers at a distance of about 50 meters while grazing his livestock in the village's pasture, who demanded he stop grazing there.

Additionally, another report was received indicating that on May 29, 5 horses from Khnatsakh crossed into Azerbaijani-controlled territory, but soldiers returned only 3 of them. The Human Rights Defender's investigations have noted that the rights of residents in all mentioned villages in Syunik - Khnatsakh, Khuznayar, Aravus, Verishen, and Akner - continue to be grossly violated, as it is impossible to utilize pastures, hayfields, and other lands for at least two reasons: 1) Azerbaijani armed forces unlawfully occupy these areas; 2) Those areas are under the direct fire of Azerbaijani armed forces.

Investigations by the Defender's office, including the regional division in Syunik, confirm that the violations and tensions concerning the residents of Verishen and Akner villages in the Goris community have particularly intensified since May 12, 2021, when Azerbaijani armed forces illegally invaded the area of the RA Sevan Lake based on fake maps.

The fact-finding work of the Human Rights Defender continues to affirm that the evident illegal presence of Azerbaijani armed forces directly next to Armenian villages and on the roads connecting communities has seriously endangered the lives and health of residents in border villages, completely disrupting their normal lives and mental inviolability. Furthermore, it is urgently necessary for the villagers to utilize these lands according to seasonal demands; otherwise, the situation will only exacerbate social issues. The rights of border residents are guaranteed by the Armenian Constitution and international norms. No process concerning state borders can be considered acceptable if it disrupts the normal life of border residents, grossly violates, and continues to threaten their rights. These are absolute international demands enshrined in documents from the OSCE, UN, and other international organizations (guidelines, treaties, etc.).

Azerbaijani soldiers, flags, and signs must not be present near the borders of Armenian villages and roadways connecting communities. The described situation is unacceptable from any perspective of international processes.