The Basis for Removing Azerbaijani Soldiers from Our Villages Should Be Human Rights Protection: Ombudsman

Human rights violations provide a solid basis to argue that their very presence is a gross infringement of the right to life, free movement, and other vital rights guaranteed internationally. This was stated by Armenia's Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan on his Facebook page.

“We must stop viewing issues related to the state border solely from a military-political perspective. That is a gross mistake. The state thus confines itself within restrictions, is forced to appeal only to international military-political bodies, becomes a victim of geopolitical processes, and cannot adequately protect its population, their rights, and freedoms. It is clear that the Azerbaijani authorities only exploit this,” he emphasized.

“The actions to remove Azerbaijani servicemen from our villages and roads should also be based on the protection of the rights of individuals, specifically border residents, and international mechanisms should be utilized on this basis (such as the UN Security Council regarding border issues, the UN Human Rights Council, the European Court of Human Rights, etc.). The facts of human rights violations fully allow us to argue that their presence itself is a gross violation of the right to life, free movement, and other vital rights guaranteed internationally.”

This will enable our state and government to broadly benefit from international human rights mechanisms, diversify those mechanisms, and thereby strengthen both political and military components. It will also provide the opportunity to protect the right to life of our servicemen. Security does not mean just political and military; first and foremost, it concerns the safe life and rights of individuals in border communities,” Tatoyan wrote.