Armenia`s Ombudsman:  President of Azerbaijan uses statements, which  are part of anti-Armenian policy in Azerbaijan and organized  propaganda of hostility towards the Armenian people

ArmInfo. 'Yesterday, on January 7,  2021, the President of Azerbaijan, in his speech summarizing 2020,  used statements and emphases which are part of the anti- Armenian  policy in Azerbaijan and the organized propaganda of hostility  towards the Armenian people', Armenia's Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan  stressed in his statement.

'In particular, the speech used open threats against Armenia and the  Armenian society, expressions threatening the entire Armenian people  and insulting their dignity.

The speech also referred to the isolation of Artsakh, and to the  disruption of humanitarian aid to Artsakh.  This, as a matter of law,  violates the internationally recognized principle that no one should  be left behind and no human right ignored, regardless of the  political status of the territory in which one is present or resides  therein.

The Ombudsman of Armenia deems it imperative to note that the speech  of the President of Azerbaijan should be viewed in the context that  the entirety of the war of September-November 2020 was accompanied by  the Azerbaijani armed forces' onslaught onto internationally  recognized rights to life, health, property, and other  internationally protected rights of Armenians. These gross violations  of rights were carried out and caused mass destruction of peaceful  Armenian residential towns, villages and communities. Similar  violations were also recorded at different times and instances which  predated this war.  The wording and emphasis of this speech should be  viewed in the context of the condemnable actions committed by the  Azerbaijani military in recent days against the border residents of  our country and, in general, our people.  Here are just two such  examples, which are based on alarming complaints addressed to  Armenia's Human Rights Defender from civilians of bordering regions,  as well as on monitoring of the Defender's Office:  1) placing a sign  with "Welcome to Azerbaijan" and a map covering the territory of the  Republic of Armenia in the middle of the road connecting the two  communities of Syunik region of Armenia, Goris and Vorotan, and doing  it in a way that intimidates civilians; 2) placing Azerbaijani flags  on civilian houses in peaceful communities of Syunik region and  posting videos that clearly offend civilians in order to blatantly  intimidate them and much more.  And all these activities provoking  civilians are done against the background of the crimes against  humanity and war crimes committed by the Azerbaijani armed forces  during this war.  Therefore, I draw the attention of the  international community to the fact that the distortions and emphases  of the speech of the President of Azerbaijan on January 7, 2021  violate international humanitarian law and international human rights  law in general.  These sentiments are absolutely reprehensible in as  much as they continue to serve to encourage anti- Armenian policies  and hostility towards the Armenian people at the highest state  level".