Friday, September 17 2021 16:45

ArmInfo. The actions of the Azerbaijani servicemen in Vorotan continue to violate the rights of the civilian population of Armenia and Iranian citizens who are  legally in the Republic of Armenia, and entail criminal liability.  This is stated in the report of the Ombudsman of Armenia, which  presents the results of the work on collecting facts, committed  during the visit to Syunik region .

In particular, the facts show that the Azerbaijani armed forces  without any legal basis continue to stop trucks with Iranian license  plates, which legally pass on this section of the interstate road of  Armenia, for various checks. Amounts are illegally collected from  drivers, other illegal demands are made. In addition, fences were  installed near the police strongpoint on the road.  Due to these  illegal actions of the Azerbaijani armed forces, the movement of  people and civilian transport on the Vorotan section of the road has  significantly slowed down, which has caused more frequent traffic  jams, which are becoming more and more intense. Traffic on the  Kapan-Tatev road is similarly disrupted.

Due to queues and traffic jams at the Vorotan section, traffic has  become one-way. The communication of the civilian population of the  Republic of Armenia, including the availability of emergency medical  services, has become seriously complicated.  In addition, the labor  rights of Iranian citizens are violated, as well as their right to  conduct business. People suffer significant material damage.

With the help of cameras installed on the Vorotan section of the  road, the Azerbaijani authorities continue to openly, without legal  grounds, collect personal data of the civilian population of Armenia.

According to a study by the Office of the Ombudsman, representatives  of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces carry out such illegal activities in  the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia in masks, which is  a gross violation of international human rights law, increases the  risk of illegal actions and creates an environment of impunity.  It  is undeniable that the deployment of an Azerbaijani police base, as  well as a similar policy of Azerbaijan, is aimed at creating tension  and intimidating the civilian population of Armenia.

Lines of numerous trucks, traffic jams disrupted the normal and  peaceful life of the civilian population of Vorotan, Goris region,  and led to consequences that threaten the physical safety of people.

The Ombudsman will inform international organizations (UN, OSCE, CE,  etc.) about the situation.  To recall, in early September, the  Azerbaijani side established a police post on the sovereign territory  of the Republic of Armenia, blocking the M2 Yerevan-Kapan interstate  road near the village of Vorotan, Goris region.