All Three Children Killed in Sarnaghbyur Were at School: Tatoyan Provides Details

The Azerbaijani armed forces isolated the four regions of Artsakh – Martuni, Martakert, Askeran, and Stepanakert – from each other from the very beginning of the armed attack. This was stated by Arman Tatoyan, the director of the Tatoyan Foundation and former Human Rights Defender of Armenia, during a press conference today.

He announced that their team had conducted a fact-finding mission since the onset of the armed attack. The gathered data showed that the Azerbaijani authorities had meticulously prepared for this attack, aiming to create panic and chaos in Artsakh from the very first moments.

In addition to isolating the settlements, the Azerbaijani armed forces continued to shell peaceful residents. Tatoyan compared this to a situation where people are gathered in a room with only one door, which is also closed, and shelling is done in the room, forcing people to flee from one corner to another.

“They immediately cut off the connection between the military and peaceful settlements,” Tatoyan noted. He emphasized that the timing of the attack, around 12:00-12:30, was not coincidental, as children were at school. Due to the nine-month blockade, parents often left their children at school while they went out to find food. According to him, this is the reason families became separated during the created situation, as parents could not find their children.

Tatoyan presented maps indicating the directions of the Azerbaijani attacks, noting that Azerbaijani servicemen have taken the settlements in chains. Those who could not get out of the villages have either been captured or killed, therefore, there is no question of voluntarily leaving their homes.

Ethnic cleansing has been carried out in Artsakh. The former Human Rights Defender of Armenia presented the Azerbaijani offensive in the Askeran region, specifically highlighting the village of Sarnaghbyur, where the murder of five civilians occurred, three of whom were children, and two were from one family.

“The 8-year-old and 10-year-old brothers, who were killed by Azerbaijani servicemen, were at school at that time. All three children were in school,” Tatoyan emphasized.

Regarding the isolation of Stepanakert, according to Tatoyan, this was an action of strategic significance for Azerbaijan. “The Azerbaijani armed forces, and naturally, the authorities intended to cause damage to civil infrastructures that are vital for people. Stepanakert had two reservoirs for drinking water – one in a settlement called Patara, and the other in the area of Gharibalashen. They quickly occupied this area and closed it, making it impossible to filter water anymore,” Tatoyan stated. He also showed murky water brought by the residents in bottles from Stepanakert, stressing that this was the water people were forced to drink.

Tatoyan also displayed several photographs taken in Stepanakert, showing buildings destroyed by Azerbaijani shelling and damaged vehicles. He stated, “It is an understatement to say that it is surprising when an international organization such as the United Nations, which has proclaimed among its goals that no one should be left out in the margins, and no rights should be overlooked, comes and declares that they have not witnessed ethnic cleansing.”

According to him, international fact-finding work implies that they should first come to Armenia – to Kornidzor, Goris, speak with people, and then go to Artsakh, rather than going to the preferred places under Azerbaijani guidance and declare that they did not see signs of ethnic cleansing.

It is noteworthy that Azerbaijan launched a large-scale attack against Artsakh on September 19. Reports indicate that the number of victims from Azerbaijani aggression exceeds 220.