Defense Ministry Issues Statement Addressing Human Rights Defender

The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia has issued a statement regarding the remarks made by the Human Rights Defender on October 21. The statement reiterates the Ministry's position that there are a number of significant inaccuracies in the Human Rights Defender's remarks from October 18, as well as information that clearly does not correspond to reality concerning the construction works carried out by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces in certain areas of Gegharkunik province.

Furthermore, in a telephone conversation that took place today regarding this issue, the Human Rights Defender, in response to the defense minister's inquiry about which areas of the Republic of Armenia are represented in the photographs provided by him, noted that the works are largely being conducted not in the territories of Armenia but in their 'vicinity.'

The Ministry of Defense urges the Human Rights Defender’s office to refrain from disseminating unverified information.