Video: Ombudsman Reports on Civilian Casualties and Evacuations

Since the morning, the assessment work by the Human Rights Defender is ongoing in the communities of Syunik, Vayots Dzor, and Gegharkunik provinces that are under Azerbaijani attack. Azerbaijani armed forces are targeting the civilian population. According to the data collected by the Ombudsman, the number of civilian casualties currently stands at 4, two of whom have been visited in the hospital by the Defender's representatives.

According to the data gathered by the Ombudsman's office, at least 2570 individuals have been displaced from their homes due to the Azerbaijani attacks in the villages of Sotk, Norabak, Kut, Azat, Ayrk, Treteuk, Koutakavank in Gegharkunik, and from the villages of Jakatun, Shikahogh, Srashen, Nerkhin Hand, Aghitu, Akner, and Verin Shen in Syunik. The overwhelming majority of those displaced are women, children, the elderly, including persons with disabilities.

The children in the aforementioned communities, in addition to being displaced and facing psychological difficulties, are deprived of the opportunity to exercise their right to education. As previously reported, the Ombudsman's office has recorded incidents of targeting ambulance vehicles.

There is also abundant evidence of the shelling, bombardment, and disruption of civilian infrastructure—such as housing, communication systems, electricity, and other civilian facilities. Particularly significant destruction has been reported in the communities of Sotk, Kut, Karashen, and Verishen, with similar findings in Geghamasar, Aghitu, Srashen, and Noravan.

The material damage to individuals continuously under attack is considerable, particularly regarding personal property and pets. As a result of Azerbaijani shelling, fires have broken out in several communities, especially in Sotk and the forested areas of the city of Jermuk, covering more than 9 hectares.

Rescue operations are complicated by the fact that some of the fire outbreaks are located within areas controlled by Azerbaijani forces, which are also actively shelling these regions in some instances. The level of recorded hostility towards Armenians in the Azerbaijani media, including by state officials, is very dangerous and poses a high risk of war crimes being committed by the Azerbaijani armed forces, according to previous experiences.

The data and evidence received and analyzed by the Ombudsman's office are being sent in written form to international organizations and other stakeholders with international legal justification.