Ombudsman and Defense Ministry Disagree on Azerbaijani Military Presence: 'Zhoghovurd'

'Zhoghovurd' daily reports: 'For several days now, newly elected Human Rights Defender Kristine Grigoryan and the Ministry of Defense have been contradicting each other and issuing opposing statements. The issue is that the Ombudsman confirmed that Azerbaijani soldiers have been stationed in areas adjacent to Nerkhin Hand. The statement reads: ‘The deployment of Azerbaijani armed forces in early March 2022 in the vicinity of the Nerkhin Hand cemetery, the monument dedicated to the victims of the Great Patriotic War, and the hill near the village called Shinategh, including the establishment of several tents and new roads under construction behind their positions, is recent.’

The Ministry of Defense essentially acknowledges that the area is under Azerbaijani control, but asserts this occurred not from March of this year but from last spring. ‘Trenches were dug last year, which due to lack of appropriate equipment were unsuitable in winter conditions; they left and returned this spring,’ they indicate.

Moreover, the Ombudsman emphasizes that this situation has created serious difficulties for the residents engaged in livestock and agriculture in terms of their livelihoods. The Ministry of Defense claims otherwise, asserting that the Azerbaijanis cannot consider Nerkhin Hand as their target since their positions are 2 kilometers away and there are several heights between the village and them. Thus, the RA Ministry of Defense continues to justify Azerbaijani actions, while the new ombudsman seeks to voice the truth. Meanwhile, citizens of Armenia continue to face discomfort in their homes.'

For more details, see today’s edition of the newspaper.