On July 15, Azerbaijani servicemen opened fire near the village of Kut in the Gegharkunik region. Human Rights Defender

The gunfire from Azerbaijani armed forces near the village of Kut in the Gegharkunik region on July 15, 2021, is evidence that their presence near the border villages of Armenia and along the roads constitutes a violation of the right to life of the residents. This statement was made by the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan.

On July 15, the office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia received reports that Azerbaijani servicemen had opened fire in the vicinity of the village of Kut in the Gegharkunik region. Through its fact-finding efforts, the office confirmed that the gunfire was audible to the civilian population in the village of Kut.

Based on the reports, it was determined that Azerbaijani armed forces were stationed approximately 3 kilometers away from the village of Kut, located within the sovereign territory of Armenia. These areas serve as pastures and hayfields for the civilian population. Due to the illegal presence of Azerbaijani forces, Armenian residents have been deprived of their rights to access these lands.

The fact-finding activities also established that on July 15, around 2:30 PM, Azerbaijani armed forces engaged in intense shooting towards the positions of the Armenian armed forces for about 40 minutes using various calibers of weapons.

The periodic gunfire from Azerbaijani servicemen near the villages of the Gegharkunik region poses a real danger to the life and health of the Armenian civilian population. These acts are also aimed at depriving Armenian residents of their property and other vital rights, including the opportunity to engage in livestock farming and earn a livelihood for their families.

Such criminal acts (gunfire, livestock thefts, obstruction of hay harvesting, etc.) are regularly perpetrated both in the vicinity of Gegharkunik and Syunik communities or against their residents. The gunfire on July 15 further proves that the presence of Azerbaijani armed forces near the villages of Gegharkunik and Syunik regions, as well as along the roads between communities in Syunik region, is primarily a violation of the right to life of the Armenian residents.

The fact of the Azerbaijani gunfire on July 15 has also been officially confirmed by the Ministry of Defense of Armenia.