The Important Thing is the Election Campaign, the Safety of Border Residents has Become a Tertiary Issue: Takhuhy Tovmasyan

Member of the National Assembly and representative of the 'Honorary Have' alliance Takhuhy Tovmasyan wrote on her Facebook page:

“While the authorities are conducting an election campaign by intimidating competitors with a hammer, yesterday nine Azerbaijani soldiers stole a cow and a newborn calf from the pasture of the Upper Shorja shepherd. Prior to this, around 80 heads of cattle were stolen from the vicinity of the Kut community in the Gegharkunik region. There has been no accountability, no outcry. The important thing is the election campaign; the safety of border residents has become a tertiary issue.

A resident of Upper Shorja woke up to the sound of Azerbaijani gunfire and realized that Azerbaijani soldiers were shooting at his cattle, which were in open territory right next to his residence. He quickly went to the animals and found that one cow and the newborn calf were missing. Shortly after, he noticed that nine armed Azerbaijani soldiers were driving the cow and calf towards their positions. Together with other shepherds, they tried to bring the animals back, which at that moment began to run towards the shepherds. However, the Azerbaijani soldiers began shooting at the animals and, injuring the cow's leg, did not allow them to reach the shepherds. Shots were also fired in the direction of the shepherds.

After that, the shepherds watched as, already four hours after the theft, around 09:30, Azerbaijani soldiers began slaughtering the cow at their positions.

The Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia specifically notes that this theft occurred in the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia, and that Azerbaijani armed forces descended from positions where they are illegally stationed. Azerbaijani soldiers are committing overt criminal acts with the intention of depriving Armenian civilians of their right to life and other vital rights, the ability to engage in animal husbandry, and earn a living for their families. Moreover, they have not returned the livestock recently stolen from Armenian citizens (from the villages of Kut, Upper Shorja in Gegharkunik, and Aravus, Khanjakh in Syunik region, etc.). This incident of crime once again confirms that the protection of the rights of the Armenian population urgently requires the presence of a security zone against Azerbaijani armed forces' criminal acts.”