Azerbaijani Armed Forces Surrounding Nerkin Hand from Three Sides: CivilNetCheck

In the southern Syunik region, in the Nerkin Hand village area that is part of the Kapan community, reports emerged in March 2022 regarding advancements by the Azerbaijani armed forces. CivilNet's fact-checking team, CivilNetCheck, has addressed the Azerbaijani encroachments towards the village twice.

Analysis of satellite images shows that as of late May this year, the Azerbaijani armed forces had penetrated and established positions from three directions around the sovereign territory of Armenia in the vicinity of Nerkin Hand. Updated satellite images evidence that during the aggression on September 13-14, the Azerbaijani forces invaded Armenian territory from a fourth direction near Nerkin Hand.

Directions of Azerbaijani armed incursions in the Nerkin Hand area (photos from sentinel-hub.com)

The satellite images indicate that in September, Azerbaijani forces also captured an Armenian position and constructed a road leading to this seized position, marked as “1” on the map below. The Armenian side has retreated towards the village and presumably repositioned on the hillside (marked as “3”). The fourth direction of the incursion into Armenian territory is indicated by “2” on the map. As a result of the latest advancements, Azerbaijani units are currently located approximately 500 meters away from the residential part of the village.

Aliyev's Claims and Occupied Nerkin Hand

On October 14, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev claimed during a meeting of the CIS leaders in Astana that Azerbaijan had no intention of occupying Armenian territory, contrary to what some suggest. “No city, no village has been captured,” he stated. Azerbaijan has not indeed captured any settlements within Armenian territory up to now. However, as satellite images demonstrate, significant advancements have placed the village of Nerkin Hand under Azerbaijani military targets, resulting in serious security issues for its residents.

Following a recent visit to Nerkin Hand, Human Rights Defender Kristine Grigoryan noted that due to the incursion of Azerbaijani armed forces, community residents, especially women and children, are facing an increasingly difficult situation regarding their psychological and physical safety, basic living conditions, property rights, educational rights, and the realization of other fundamental rights.