VIDEO: "Fires Set by Azerbaijanis Are Now Threatening Villages," Ombudsman

The Ombudsman of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan, has raised an alarm. "The fires started by the Azerbaijani armed forces in Gegharkunik are burning not only pastures and hayfields but also the hay that people have painstakingly harvested and stored for winter. For instance, today around 5 PM, a resident of Kout village reported that he has 4-5 hectares of hayfield and has collected about 500 bales of hay. The fire was only 4-5 meters away from his hay bales at around 5 PM.

There are also reports that even after extinguishing the hotspots, Azerbaijani troops are deliberately starting new fires. Today, we received calls from various times from Kout and Sotk villages in Gegharkunik region indicating that the fires set by Azerbaijani armed forces on August 29 have spread further and are now encroaching upon the villages.

Many areas cannot be accessed due to Azerbaijani fire targeting, and if approached, they open fire. Rescue services are conducting firefighting efforts, supported by residents. However, it is impossible to use appropriate equipment everywhere as the fires extend to high-altitude areas that are hard to reach. Additionally, due to weather conditions, the spread of the fires is worsening.

Studies have shown that during the day, firefighters managed to extinguish only the fire towards Sotk. The actions of the Azerbaijani armed forces result in the destruction of pastures and hayfields owned by civilians, depriving people of their source of livelihood, which in turn leads to an increase in social problems.

Considering that the Azerbaijani armed forces have invaded and are stationed in the immediate vicinity of the villages on the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia, the fires also pose a real threat to the lives of the civilian population of the villages and their entire property.

The Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia has documented evidence and inspections of the actions of the Azerbaijani armed forces, indicating that these actions are becoming increasingly dangerous for civilians, are directly aimed at causing harm to people, have become targeted, and the violations of rights are of a mass character.