Azerbaijanis Frequently Fire Towards Verin Shorja Village: Human Rights Defender

Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan made a Facebook post stating that "investigative works in Verin Shorja village and its surrounding areas prove that the settlement is under the focus of Azerbaijani armed forces. They frequently fire towards the village and the surrounding areas populated by civilians.

In addition to the fact that Azerbaijani armed forces are unlawfully stationed in the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia, they are located on land legally belonging to Armenian citizens, with over 1,200 hectares of pastureland, 220 hectares of hayfields, and 250 hectares of arable land in this region alone, according to minimal estimates. Objective evidence of this is available.

Cases of livestock theft by Azerbaijani armed forces have also been recorded, with no returns, and instances of animals dying due to their gunfire. Moreover, the lands directly opposite these areas cannot be used either, as they are under fire. In cases of approaching people, Azerbaijani soldiers fire upon them.

Residents have noted that Azerbaijani gunfire is deterred thanks to the preventive fire from the Armenian armed forces, aimed at protecting the lives and health of individuals. Thus, Azerbaijani armed forces violate the rights of civilians to life and health, disrupt the peace of the people, and obstruct their property rights and normal life, preventing agricultural activities.

Azerbaijani deployments and the described actions blatantly violate internationally guaranteed human rights and are prohibited under international law. The results of the visit will be presented to international organizations (UN, CoE, EU, etc.) and relevant state bodies of the Republic of Armenia."