38 Artsakh Residents Died in Captivity Following 44-Day War, Ombudsman Reports

The Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Artsakh, Gegham Stepanyan, issued a message on the anniversary of the 44-day war.

"On September 27, 2020, Azerbaijan unleashed military aggression against the peaceful population of Artsakh with the support of Turkey and the involvement of international mercenaries, violating fundamental principles of international law regarding the non-use of force and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. From the very beginning and throughout the war, the Azerbaijani-Turkish forces deliberately and indiscriminately targeted almost all peaceful settlements in Artsakh, including the capital Stepanakert and all densely populated communities.

The use of prohibited weapons allowed the Azerbaijani side to target civilian infrastructures and objects specifically protected by international law, including schools, kindergartens, hospitals, ambulances, and other humanitarian facilities. The actions of Azerbaijan during the 44 days resulted in massive violations of international humanitarian law and human rights, accompanied by widespread military crimes, which have been summarized in more than 10 reports initiated by the Human Rights Defender of Artsakh and submitted to relevant international bodies.

A total of 80 civilians were killed as a result of the Azerbaijani actions, including 42 from long-range strikes and 38 from Azerbaijani captivity. 163 civilians suffered injuries of varying degrees. The fate of about 20 civilians remains unknown.

Ignoring the requirements of international humanitarian law, the Azerbaijani side has subjected Armenian prisoners of war and civilians to extreme brutality, torture, and desecration of the corpses of fallen Armenian soldiers. Even today, they continue to deliberately conceal the true number of Armenian prisoners of war and conduct sham trials against Armenian servicemen in captivity.

As a result of Azerbaijani aggression, 40,000 residents of Artsakh have been deprived of their homes and property, and despite ongoing programs, they continue to face daily violations of their rights, receiving insufficient attention from the international community and humanitarian organizations.

The rhetoric of hatred and intolerance against Armenians, systematically promoted by the Azerbaijani authorities over the past 30 years, manifested itself on a larger scale during the 44-day war, expressed in the statements and calls of Azerbaijani officials, public, cultural figures, and various representatives of society.

Even a year after the aggression, the Azerbaijani authorities continue the policy of ethnic cleansing by creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation among the people living in Artsakh, disrupting their normal lives, and causing obstacles in various humanitarian issues. This policy also includes the cultural genocide being carried out by Azerbaijan in the occupied territories of Artsakh, aimed at destroying Armenian spiritual cultural heritage and distorting their historical belonging.

Regrettably, we must note that our numerous alerts regarding mass violations of the rights of the people of Artsakh, both during and after the war, have not received clear assessments from the international community, and even one year after the war, Azerbaijan has not been held accountable for the committed military crimes.

Despite all this, the people of Artsakh remain committed to the vital mission of protecting human rights and are determined to defend their right to live freely, safely, and with dignity in their homeland," the message stated.