ArmInfo. The Azerbaijani military who invaded the sovereign territories of the Republic of Armenia, against the background of the inaction of the Armenian authorities, already dominate in the Gegharkunik region of Armenia. This conclusion is prompted by the information published by the Ombudsman of Armenia Arman Tatoyan after additional work on collecting facts in the border villages of Gegharkunik region.
"Azerbaijani servicemen illegally stop villagers in pastures in the vicinity of the villages of Gegharkunik region, demand explanations in which direction they are moving, for what purpose and what they are transporting, try to conduct illegal searches of cars, threaten," the Ombudsman emphasized, noting that the matter concerns the violation of the rights of residents of the border villages of Verin Shorzha, Nerkin Shorzha, Norabak, Kut, Gegharkunik region. According to him, the talk also concerns the dangers associated with the illegal presence of Azerbaijani armed personnel on the sovereign territory of Armenia.
Tatoyan noted that on June 3, 2021, reports were received that the Azerbaijani military periodically, armed, in the composition of several or several dozen, descend on the pastures of the Verin Shorzha village of the Vardenis community, where the barns are located and where the villagers graze their animals.
"They behave cynically, threaten the villagers with weapons. Over the past week, they have placed positions closer to Verin Shorzha and thus made it almost impossible to use pastures. Moreover, at one of the Azerbaijani positions, which is closer to the pastures, the Azerbaijani military illegally stop the villagers, demand an explanation of the direction in which they are moving, for what purpose and what they are transporting; they are trying to conduct illegal searches in the villagers' cars. In addition, on June 3, 2021, in connection with the village of Kut in the Geghamasar community, there were reports that the Azerbaijani military continued to remain in the immediate vicinity of the village, due to which the villagers could use only a small part of the pastures. Moreover, the Azerbaijani military insults the shepherds and, shouting loudly, threaten to demonstrate their weapons. And the village is at gunpoint. There are streams near the stables, which were also used for agricultural purposes, but now the villagers cannot use them.
The obvious illegal presence of Azerbaijani armed servants in the immediate vicinity of the villages of the Gegharkunik region of the RA, their outright criminal acts endangered the life and health of the residents of the border villages of the RA, completely violated their normal life and mental integrity, "the Ombudsman emphasized.
Tatoyan noted that the presence of the Azerbaijani military on the territory of the Republic of Armenia directly affects the agricultural activities of residents of border villages, which in turn will lead to an even greater deepening of social problems.
"The water resources, from which irrigation and drinking water are formed, were under the control of the Azerbaijani armed forces. The rights of residents of the border villages of Armenia are guaranteed by the Constitution and international requirements.
Any process concerning the borders of the state cannot be considered acceptable if, as a result, the normal life of residents of border villages is violated, rights are grossly violated and continue to be violated, "he noted, once again pointing out the imperative of creating a security zone.