Azerbaijani Armed Attacks on Artsakh Had a Specially Developed Tactic, Arman Tatoyan

Between September 19-20, 2023, the Azerbaijani armed attacks on Artsakh employed a specially developed tactic. This was stated by the former Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan, on his Facebook page.

“In this report, we have revealed that the Azerbaijani armed attacks on Artsakh from September 19-20, 2023, had a specifically designed tactic. According to this tactic, four directions of attacks were planned. The attacks began on September 19, around noon at 12:30, targeting even schools. Many people had walked out in the morning to procure food or attend to other vital needs. This was the reason that numerous individuals were unable to find their family members, including children.

Furthermore, the Azerbaijani armed forces immediately destroyed civilian infrastructure, cutting off four communities in Artsakh from their villages: Stepanakert, Martuni, Askeran, and Martakert. Even rural and forest roads, which could have provided escape routes for civilians, were blocked. The connections between the Defense Army of Artsakh's positions and settlements were prioritized for severing so that military personnel could not inform residents about the Azerbaijani attacks.

The Azerbaijani authorities accurately calculated that the population of Artsakh would not be able to mount serious resistance to their armed forces as they were in a state of exhaustion and despair, having endured long months without gas, electricity, water, food, and so on. As a result of the Azerbaijani attacks, dozens of civilians were killed (and also captured), including children. More than 100,000 Armenians were forcibly displaced, dispossessed, and became stateless.

All of the above is based on the Azerbaijani state policy of hatred and racism against Armenians. The reason for the rampant attacks is also the impunity for the crimes committed. Moreover, in discussing the issue of those forcibly displaced from Artsakh, one must also remember the Armenians who were forcibly displaced in 2020 due to the 44-day war,” Tatoyan wrote.