Human Rights Defender Issues Statement

Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan wrote on his Facebook page: "The only alternative road leading to Vorotan is under the direct observation of Azerbaijani armed forces. The only way to restore the safety and rights of the residents is their removal. In addition to the fact that due to baseless Azerbaijani so-called border and customs control, people have been deprived of their internationally guaranteed right to move freely and safely through the Goris-Kapan road, the alternative operational road does not objectively address the violations of rights that have arisen due to the illegal actions of the Azerbaijani authorities and their armed personnel (for example, security, restoration of normal life, etc.).

Today we also studied the observed sections of the only currently operational alternative road (not all parts shown in the attached photos) with the acting head of the Goris community, Artyom Agajanyan, and his staff.

Furthermore, the closure of the road leading to Vorotan, Shurnukh, and Bardzravan villages (the same applies to Nor Arajadzor) has also created serious human rights and isolation issues, given that until the road's closure on November 11, the Goris-Kapan road passed through these villages, and thus the overall movement was also through these villages, but now only the residents or those visiting specific villages go there. Moreover, Iranian trucks are also traveling.

Therefore, there is only one necessary solution: Azerbaijani armed or other personnel should not be near our communities or on the roads between the communities; a demilitarized security zone should be created. This is the way to restore the rights of the residents of the Republic of Armenia. This fully conforms to international experience and standards.

No one has the right to ignore human rights and humanitarian issues in the process of determining borders, period. I will present special reports from the Human Rights Defender to relevant international bodies, as well as to Armenian authorities and NGOs.

Arman Tatoyan