Azerbaijani Armed Forces Invaded Armenian Territory During 44-Day War, Ombudsman Says

The Human Rights Defender of Armenia has documented the third case of Azerbaijani illegal invasion (October 2020) with gross violations of civil rights in Kapan.

Our ongoing fact-finding work has revealed that during the war in late October 2020, Azerbaijani armed forces invaded the sovereign territory of Armenia in the border area adjacent to the village of Tsav in the Syunik region, creating real danger especially for the residents of the Kapan's Nerkin Hand and Tsav villages.

This report also includes the mapping of Azerbaijani armed forces' invasions shown in yellow on Google Maps, with descriptions of at least five specific locations. According to the Google Maps mapping, the incursions are located deep within the sovereign territory of Armenia adjacent to the village of Tsav, at distances of 150m, 190m, 960m, 1140m, and 1210m from the designated border.

They are specifically in areas where there are pastures and grazing lands. As a result of the invasion, civil residents have been deprived of the opportunity to use these lands, adversely affecting their ability to earn family income.

The Azerbaijani armed forces blatantly violate the rights of the residents of the Kapan community, especially in Tsav and Nerkin Hand, to live safely, to own property, and to earn family income.

Their presence poses a real threat to people's peaceful lives. In other words, the presence of the Azerbaijani armed forces in the border area adjacent to the village of Tsav in Armenia's sovereign territory lacks any legal title.

The rights of the border residents of Armenia will continue to be violated as long as they are illegally stationed in the sovereign territory of Armenia, on people's lands.

Concurrently, the Azerbaijani hatred toward Armenians and its fascistic policies continue. Therefore, this issue should also be raised in international forums, including the European Court of Human Rights, the International Court of Justice at the United Nations, and other jurisdictions.

There must be a mandatory component aimed at restoring the violated rights of border residents. The restoration of the rights of border residents in Armenia requires the immediate removal of Azerbaijani servicemen. This must occur near the villages of Syunik and Gegharkunik, along the roads between Syunik communities.

Arman Tatoyan, Human Rights Defender of Armenia