‘These actions are directed against the Russian military’ – Artsakh Human Rights Defender

The Office of the Human Rights Defender of Artsakh is currently in the Lachin corridor, conducting on-site observations and gathering facts. Gegham Stepanyan, the Human Rights Defender of Artsakh, stated this in a conversation with journalists while participating in the ‘Against Genocide’ Global Forum in Yerevan.

‘At this moment, 120,000 people in Artsakh are deprived of any humanitarian access. Azerbaijan is once again demonstrating its genocidal and criminal policies,’ Stepanyan noted.

According to the Human Rights Defender of Artsakh, it is very clear that all of this is a pretext, and the environmental issues are being used by Azerbaijanis to intimidate the people living in Artsakh. Stepanyan urged forum participants and the international community to not only speak but also take action, as 120,000 people living in Artsakh are under direct threat of genocide and ethnic cleansing.

He emphasized that almost no one from the international community has visited Artsakh and called on them to implement mechanisms to prevent the threat of genocide.

‘Currently, a group of Azerbaijani so-called environmentalists has set up 2-3 tents in the Lachin corridor area, with their numbers reaching about 30. They are also holding posters. I clearly see that these actions are directed against the Russian military, which is also confirmed by the provocations from Azerbaijani journalists in recent days. The objective is to discredit the Russian peacekeepers and prepare the ground to not extend their mandate after 2025 (according to the trilateral statement of November 9),’ Stepanyan stated.

He assured that the Russian peacekeeping forces are currently engaged in resolving the issue, as they are responsible for the safety of that route and the Lachin corridor. A group of Azerbaijanis in civilian clothing, again citing environmental reasons, blocked the Stepanakert-Goris highway around 10:30 AM on December 12. The command of the Russian peacekeeping forces stationed in Artsakh has been properly informed about the incident.