Mass Murders Occurred in Khovsakan on October 20: Soldiers Were Tied to Vehicles and Dragged, Ears of the Deceased Soldiers Cut Off – Ombudsman

On October 20, in Khovsakan, during the deployment of 61 Armenian soldiers from Kapan to Khovsakan, brutalities took place. A shootout occurred, resulting in the deaths of Armenian servicemen, with some saved while others were captured and forcibly disappeared, stated the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan, while presenting a report on the violations of the rights of Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan.

"The brutalities took place not only against living persons but also against the bodies of the deceased. There are photos showing that the ears of the slain servicemen were specifically cut off. It was carried out by officers of the Azerbaijani border service," Tatoyan said.

According to the Defender, the report includes photographs showing that Armenian soldiers were tied to vehicles and dragged. "We have identified that this happened with a Turkish-made 'Otokar APV' special vehicle, which belongs to the Azerbaijani border service," Tatoyan added.

According to Tatoyan, the Azerbaijani servicemen who committed the atrocities in Khovsakan are currently present on the roads between the communities of Syunik.