About 15 Minutes of Gunfire: Artsakh Ombudsman on Yesterday's Shootings at Karmir Shuka

The increased Azerbaijani activity towards Karmir Shuka poses a direct threat to the psychological security and normal life of the residents, stated Gegham Stepanyan, the Ombudsman of Artsakh, in an interview with Sputnik Armenia, confirming reports of gunfire from Azerbaijani positions towards Karmir Shuka yesterday.

“Yesterday, around 21:30, there was a gunfire lasting about 15 minutes. The shots fired were aimed at the sky to instill fear in the peaceful population, and illuminating rounds were also used. We have no information on damages; today the situation has been calm, with no new gunfire recorded,” noted Stepanyan.

It is worth mentioning that the enemy positions are located about 1 km away from Karmir Shuka. Stepanyan highlighted that the recent increase in Azerbaijani military activity aims to disrupt ongoing agricultural work. Even when firing into the air, the normal life of the people is still being disturbed.

“We constantly emphasize that these positions must be removed from the vicinity of civilian settlements, as their mere presence already constitutes a threat. Currently, it is the autumn planting season, and residents feel threatened while carrying out their agricultural activities,” Stepanyan explained.

According to the Artsakh Ombudsman, the only solution to the problem is the withdrawal of Azerbaijani positions near Armenian settlements both in Artsakh and Armenia. They have also conveyed their stance to the Russian peacekeepers regarding this issue, but the problem remains unresolved.