Azerbaijan Commits 69 Crimes Against Artsakh Armenians Following November 9 Trilateral Statement

The Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Artsakh has released information regarding criminal offenses committed by Azerbaijan against the Armenian population of Artsakh from the November 9, 2020 trilateral statement until January 1, 2022.

From the date of the trilateral statement until January 1, 2022, Azerbaijani armed forces stationed in areas adjacent to Armenian settlements under the control of the Republic of Artsakh have committed 69 crimes against the Artsakh Armenians, leading to a total of 54 criminal cases being initiated.

In total, 5 cases of murder have been registered (3 of which involve the killing of civilians), 28 attempted murders (19 of which were directed at soldiers), 1 act of terrorism, 16 cases of property destruction using firearms (of which 10 involved the destruction or damage of military property), 5 cases of attempted damage or destruction of property, 3 cases of theft, 2 cases of robbery, 3 cases of destroying graves, 4 cases of torture, and 1 case each of making threats of murder and kidnapping.

As a result of these crimes, 3 civilians and 10 soldiers have been killed, and 77 individuals have been subjected to attempted murder (50 of whom are soldiers). Additionally, 37 people (28 soldiers) have sustained varying degrees of gunshot wounds, 8 have faced physical violence, and 2 have received threats of murder.

The criminal offenses against the property rights of Artsakh residents have led to property damage amounting to 17,710,000 drams due to theft (both secret and overt), including large livestock and one vehicle.

As a result of intentional property destruction or damage, 9 residential houses, 3 agricultural machinery, 9 vehicles (7 of which are military), and 2 construction machinery have been targeted. Furthermore, 3 orchards and crop fields have been set on fire, and one herd of large livestock has been targeted with firearms, causing particularly extensive property damage.

In addition to the listed incidents, since November 2020, various calibers of firearms have been periodically fired from Azerbaijani positions located near the cities of Stepanakert, Askeran, Martuni, and the villages of Shushi towards nearby Armenian settlements or in the air, frequently resulting in bullets landing on rooftops or in backyards, hitting residential houses and other buildings.

The presented data confirms that since the trilateral statement, Azerbaijan has regularly violated the condition outlined in the first point of the “Statement” regarding the “complete cessation of fire and military operations,” leading to fatalities and violations of basic rights necessary for human existence and living. The factors restraining the proliferation of Azerbaijan's terrorist and genocidal actions continue to be the Armenian soldier and the Russian peacekeeping forces.