Perpetrators of Atrocities Have Not Been Punished, Rather They Have Been Encouraged: Tatoyan

Former Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan writes on his Facebook page: "On September 27, 2020, 9-year-old Viktoria Gevorgyan was killed in the backyard of her home due to shelling in Martuni, Artsakh. This marked the start of the large-scale war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh and Armenia on September 27, 2020. On October 14, Azerbaijani armed forces executed peaceful residents Benik Hakobyan, 73, and Yuri Adamyan, 25, in Hadrut, wrapping them in the flags of Armenia and Artsakh.

On October 21, Azerbaijani armed forces captured the village of Azokh in Hadrut and beheaded 80-year-old Yuri Asryan, a resident of the village. On October 28, they beheaded 69-year-old Genadi Petrosyan of the village of Madatashen in Askeran, placing his head on a pig's body. Azerbaijani soldiers themselves filmed the entire process of the beheadings, which they later shared with exceptional cynicism in a celebration of 'glory.' In this way, civilians and soldiers were tortured and subjected to atrocities during and even after the war with the active participation of jihadists and terrorists.

Azerbaijani targeted attacks, using prohibited weaponry, destroyed civilian settlements. Armenian churches were desecrated and destroyed. In the context of COVID-19, Azerbaijani attacks significantly increased death tolls, crippling the healthcare systems of Artsakh and Armenia. The entire situation was accompanied by state-sponsored propaganda of racism and hostility towards Armenians.

To this day, the perpetrators of the atrocities have not been punished; rather, they have been encouraged. True peace is only achieved with real guarantees, through a strong and resilient state devoid of internal divisions, where public solidarity and justice ensure peace within the country as well. My respects to all those who fell for the homeland," wrote Tatoyan.