Azerbaijan Directly Targeted Civilian Population: Confirmed 2 Casualties, Kyaramyan

Currently, we have confirmed two civilian casualties. The investigation is ongoing in this regard. This was stated today by the President of the Investigative Committee of Armenia, Arghisti Kyaramyan, in a conversation with several journalists in the Gegharkunik region.

“One of the victims was the result of directly targeting a road. Yes, we also have a case where an ambulance was targeted,” he said.

According to him, criminal cases have been initiated regarding acts of aggression by the Azerbaijani military-political leadership, as well as several significant violations of international humanitarian law. Criminal cases have also been initiated under the law regarding the desecration of corpses.

“An investigation is being carried out, and at this moment, investigative teams are working in Gegharkunik, Syunik, and Vayots Dzor together with experts. The primary goal is to document the damage caused to civilian infrastructure and objects. Numerous civilian buildings have been damaged. Our task is also to record these damages and clarify the total value of material damage later through forensic examinations. Currently, investigative groups are working in this direction,” he said.

Kyaramyan noted that the criminal case was initiated on the day of the aggression, and since then, the Investigative Committee has been carrying out activities. He pointed out that there were no military infrastructure or personnel in the damaged areas of civilian infrastructure or the areas in between. “It is obvious that Azerbaijan has directly targeted the civilian population and civilian infrastructure,” said Kyaramyan.

When asked what the next steps would be after the investigative work is completed, the IC president replied, “In fact, it is very important to specifically record the targeting of civilian infrastructure so that we can raise these issues in international forums. Our partners are working in that direction, and we will also provide our collected evidence to the competent state bodies working in those forums. We are working very intensively and operationally, some of the information has already been provided, and new information is being continuously provided.”

“Our partners have also appealed regarding the identified prisoners, and the European Court has already issued interim measures in this regard,” he added.