Human Rights Defender of Artsakh Issues Statement

Azerbaijani "eco-activists" have blocked the passage of 27 civilian individuals from Armenia to Artsakh. This statement was made by the Human Rights Defender of Artsakh, Gegham Stepanyan.

He stated, "A total of 27 civilians, including elderly individuals, children, and persons with disabilities, who were separated from their families for several months, were en route from Goris, Armenia to Stepanakert on April 4 at around 15:30, in accordance with an agreement with the Russian side and under the escort of Russian peacekeepers. Despite the preliminary agreements regarding their return, the Azerbaijani government agents, posing as 'eco-activists', blocked the passage of the Russian peacekeeping forces' vehicles transporting civilians in the section near Shushi on the blocked part of the Goris-Stepanakert highway. As a result, the civilians remained stuck in that area for about five hours. After unsuccessful negotiations between the Russian side and the Azerbaijanis, the vehicles are now returning to Goris.

According to reports, some Azerbaijanis even invaded one of the waiting vehicles. During the waiting and negotiation period, four civilians experienced a worsening of their health, and three of them fainted. Under the escort of Russian peacekeepers, they were transported to the Republican Medical Center in Stepanakert. The other civilians, numbering 23, are returning to Goris.

From the very first day of the 114-day ongoing blockade, the Azerbaijani side has been declaring through various platforms that the road is open for the transportation of civilians and goods, directly questioning not only the justified claims of the Armenian side but also the positions and statements of many international actors, including the fact noted in the February 22, 2023 ruling of the International Court of Justice.

The recorded incident further proves the essence of the Azerbaijani leadership's false and fabricated claims, a clear and blatant pattern of deceiving and misleading the international community. Moreover, by allowing people to leave but prohibiting their entry, the Azerbaijani authorities are overtly implementing a policy of ethnic cleansing, as reiterated by Ilham Aliyev in his statement on January 10. It has long been evident that the only reason for the Azerbaijani side's brazen behavior, the lack of compliance with the international community's calls, and the ruling of the International Court of Justice is the prevailing lawlessness, the disdain shown towards the peacekeeping mission, and the absence of tangible, practical punitive actions by all relevant international actors.

Currently, hundreds of civilians in Goris and other locations in Armenia are simply deprived of the opportunity to reunite with their families. The Azerbaijani side, taking advantage of the atmosphere of lawlessness, is not cooperating on this matter with either the Russian peacekeepers, the International Committee of the Red Cross, or any other international organizations.