32 Deaths and Over 200 Injured as a Result of Shelling, Reports Armenian Ombudsman

Since September 19, Azerbaijani armed forces have been shelling civilian areas in Nagorno-Karabakh, targeting the civilian population and infrastructure, including residential buildings and schools. According to information registered by the Office of the Human Rights Defender, as of now, there are 32 deaths and over 200 injuries, including 7 fatalities (2 children) and 35 injuries (13 children) among the civilian population.

This was reported by Armanit Manasyan, the Human Rights Defender of Armenia: "Due to Azerbaijani aggression, buildings, parked cars in yards, and homes have been damaged. In the early hours of September 20, the Azerbaijani armed forces shelled an ambulance in Stepanakert that was en route to transport the bodies of eight people killed due to the Azerbaijani attack from the Martakert region."

According to information disseminated by open sources, Azerbaijani armed forces have also fired upon Russian peacekeepers' vehicles when they attempted to evacuate women and children via the Lachin corridor crossing the Hakari Bridge. These facts confirm that the Azerbaijani armed forces aim to finalize the ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Human Rights Defender's office is also conducting constant monitoring of Azerbaijani press and social media, resulting in numerous posts from social media users targeting the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh based on ethnic origin, and promoting and justifying hatred and violence. The Defender notes that such intolerant attitudes from Azerbaijani society are a consequence and proof of the anti-Armenian policy of the Azerbaijani authorities.

The Human Rights Defender emphasizes that Azerbaijani aggression grossly violates international law and the principles of international humanitarian law. The Defender calls upon international organizations and actors with a mandate for human rights protection to adequately assess Azerbaijani actions and take immediate measures to stop mass atrocities," he stated.