BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 19. Azerbaijani Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) Sabina Aliyeva made a statement in connection with the danger of mines in Azerbaijan's territories liberated from Armenian occupation [in the 2020 second Karabakh war], Trend reports.
"The problem of mines in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan has not only delayed the return of internally displaced persons to their native lands, but also claimed the lives of many people or caused them permanent disability. About 200 Azerbaijanis died and were injured as a result of mine explosions after the second Karabakh war,” Aliyeva said.
“Another similar tragedy was prevented on April 18 during an organized trip of the natives of Kalbajar district’s Gunashli village to the native lands,” she noted. “As a result of the vigilance of a serviceman of the Azerbaijani army, who accompanied one of the village natives, an anti-tank mine was found on the road. Thus, the lives of 20 people, including natives of the village, representatives of government agencies and the media, were saved.”
It’s assumed that these mines were planted during the period given to Armenia to withdraw its troops and residents from Azerbaijan’s Kalbajar district in 2020 [following the second Karabakh war], the ombudsman said.
“Unfortunately, the criminal actions of Armenia in response to the humanistic approach of Azerbaijan endanger the lives of innocent people. In June last year, two Azerbaijani reporters and one civil servant were killed in the same area as a result of an anti-tank mine explosion,” Aliyeva reminded.
“The planting of mines by Armenia near settlements and provision of non-exact maps of minefields, despite numerous calls from the Azerbaijani side, are contrary to international humanitarian law and lead to the violation of many fundamental human rights. In this regard, the Azerbaijani side has repeatedly appealed to international organizations, but this yielded no results,” she also noted.
Expressing serious concern about the mine danger, the ombudsman reminded Armenia of its obligation to respect international law and called on international organizations to support Azerbaijan in this issue by taking a fair and decisive position.