BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 26. The Center for Biological Diversity public association has appealed to the world organizations for the protection of animals that suffer from mine explosions in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan, Trend reports.
"As Azerbaijani civil society representatives, we firmly oppose Armenia's mine terror against the South Caucasus' ecology, biodiversity, and animals,” the statement said.
According to preliminary data, the presence of more than 1.5 million mines and unexploded ordnance is assumed in territories liberated from Armenian occupation in 2020 and in which the sovereignty and constitutional order of the Republic of Azerbaijan (in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur) is fully restored in 2023 by clearing the remnants of illegal formations and Armed Forces of Armenia (in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur). Unfortunately, Azerbaijan is one of the world's most mine-contaminated countries.
“Recently, videos and photos of two bears (Ursus arctos) that were victims of mines in the liberated territories were published (https://twitter.com/i/status/1715434183785426948),” said the statement.
“These videos have outraged us. One of the bears was injured in the film, and the other (the tiny bear) perished after being blown up by a mine. Unfortunately, the mine that killed the small bear was manufactured in Armenia in 2021. This implies that, even after the second Karabakh war in 2020, Armenia continued to mine Azerbaijani territory, taking use of the Lachin road. The Azerbaijani army's local anti-terrorist measures in Karabakh in September 2023 prevented Armenia from mining Azerbaijan's sovereign territories,” said the association.
In addition, the public association said that a few years ago, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) also distributed an image of two leopards (Panthera pardus), whose legs were crippled on the border of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
“Among the animals affected by mines in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, there are also species listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Such a cruel attitude shown by the Republic of Armenia towards fauna is unacceptable. The South Caucasus is rich in its biodiversity, and its wildlife should not be subjected to such treatment,” said the statement.
In a statement, the group also claimed that Armenia employed animals as kamikaze killers. On September 11, 2023, Armenian illegal armed formations on Azerbaijani territory fitted an improvised explosive device with a remote control on the dog and pushed it to march towards Azerbaijani army positions. The terrorist act was averted thanks to the vigilance of Azerbaijani army soldiers.
This provocation is an act contrary to the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices annexed to the Convention on the Prohibitions or Restrictions of the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects. The use of animals for the purpose of attempted murder does not fit into any moral framework.
“The severity of the ecological disaster in the liberated lands, Armenia's ecocide, is sad. We also regard the destruction or burning of a considerable number of woods in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur during the 30-year occupation, as well as the chemical poisoning of lands and reservoirs by illicit mining businesses, to be animal slaughter. Armenia must account for its anti-humanistic deeds, eco-war, and animal abuse,” said the association.
“We appeal to Gretel Aguilar, General Director of the United for Life & Livelihoods organization, Executive Director of the World Animal Protection International organization Steve McIvor, Chairman of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Sally Spooner, co-founder of the Animal Defenders International, Jan Creamer, Chairman and co-founder of the Animal Protection and Rescue League Dina Kurda, Executive Directors of the Animal Ethics Olaya Freiría and Leah McKelvie, Executive Director of the Wild animal Initiative Cameron Meyer Shorb and the President of the World Wildlife Fund Adil Najam. We call on them to condemn these cruel actions of Armenia. This can help the Azerbaijani state to obtain accurate mine maps and save the nature of the South Caucasus. We do not want any living beings to continue to become victims of mines,” said the statements.
“The animal world should not be a victim of Armenia's military-political provocations. Wildlife and animals are asking us for help,” said the association.