Azerbaijani Soldiers Threaten Farmers and Prevent Hay Collection in Syunik Region

Yesterday, Azerbaijani servicemen threatened residents of the village of Tegh in Syunik Province with firearms and did not allow them to collect harvested hay. This was announced by the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan.

“Yesterday, Azerbaijani servicemen threatened residents of the village of Tegh in the sovereign territory of Armenia and did not allow them to collect hay harvested on June 23 and 24. Specifically, on June 26, 2021, the residents of Tegh went to their land, which they own under property rights, to collect their hay. When they were about 300 meters away from the Azerbaijani positions, within the administrative territory of Tegh community, they noticed that five armed Azerbaijani soldiers were approaching them aggressively while yelling,” the statement noted.

“As the soldiers approached to within about 150 meters, they aimed their weapons at the farmers and began to threaten and yell, preventing them from collecting the hay. Two of them were especially aggressive, demanding that the farmers not come into those areas anymore and not attempt to use the land.”

The incident occurred in an area known as Andrun K'are, located at the intersection of the villages of Tegh, Aravus, and Khndzoresk. The lands in this area are utilized by residents of the three mentioned villages. There are both privately owned lands and communal lands. Also present are pastures used by the residents of these villages for grazing their livestock.

The farmers managed to collect the hay only today, June 27, when a leadership team from the Armed Forces of Armenia’s 1st Army Corps, along with leaders from Tegh’s local self-governing bodies, arrived at the area.

This information was presented to the Human Rights Defender by the villagers, including those who went to collect hay and the head of the enlarged administrative community of Tegh. All information has been verified by the Defender's staff.

The criminal actions of Azerbaijani servicemen against Armenian citizens occurred in the sovereign territory of Armenia. It is evident that such blatant criminal acts by Azerbaijani servicemen are aimed at depriving Armenian civilians of their life and other vital rights, their ability to engage in animal husbandry, and the opportunity to earn an income for their families.

All of this should be viewed as part of ongoing intent, as similar acts (threats against shepherds, theft of animals, etc.) are regularly committed against the residents of both Gegharkunik and Syunik regions. This incident further confirms that the protection of the Armenian population from the criminal acts of the Azerbaijani armed forces urgently requires the establishment of a security zone,” the statement concludes.