Armenia`s Human Rights Defender strongly condemns the gross  violations of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians` fundamental rights 

ArmInfo. Below is a statement by Armenia's Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan: 

"It is the 247th day that the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh are under  blockade, and two months (as of June 15) that the latter have been  deprived of any kind of humanitarian aid, including basic necessities  and food.

"The Human Rights Defender records that the blockade of the Lachin  corridor by Azerbaijan has resulted in the gross violation of the  fundamental rights of the residents of NagornoKarabakh, including the  rights to life, dignity, physical and mental health and healthcare,  freedom of movement, food and an adequate standard of living,  housing, and other socioeconomic and cultural rights. The blockade  has a particular adverse impact on the rights of representatives of  vulnerable groups, such as children, women, persons with  disabilities, etc.

"In particular, 9000 persons with disabilities, 20,000 older persons,  and 60,000 women are under the blockade. The humanitarian disaster  caused by the blockade is manifested in all spheres of the normal  life of residents, in particular:

"The standard of living of the people is in a deteriorated state.  Since June 15, the complete disruption of humanitarian aid supplies  has created a crisis situation, including the risk of hunger and  starvation. The residents of Yeghtsahogh, Hin Shen, Mets Shen and  Lisagor communities of Shushi region of Nagorno- Karabakh are in a  particularly terrible situation since they are under complete  blockade as a result of the establishment of the Azerbaijani  checkpoint. Locally produced seasonal agricultural products from  different regions and communities of Nagorno-Karabakh are no longer  delivered to densely populated places - Stepanakert, Martuni and  Martakert. In all grocery stores, the total absence or scarcity of  food, basic necessities, and hygiene items was recorded, and the  acquisition of the latter is carried out through huge queues.

"In this context, it is also necessary to address the impossibility  of providing humanitarian aid from the Republic of Armenia to  Nagorno-Karabakh. Since June 15 as a result of blocking the  possibility of providing humanitarian aid by Azerbaijani authorities,  the humanitarian aid has remained standing as of today, arriving at  Kornidzor village from Yerevan on July 26. On July 28, the  representatives of the Defender's office together with the  representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Armenia and  international organizations arrived in Kornidzor, the humanitarian  convoy sector, and got acquainted with the situation on the spot.

"Due to the daily deterioration of people's health and malnutrition,  cases of fainting also continue to increase. According to the  information registered by the Human Rights Defender's office a person  died from starvation in NK. A resident of Stepanakert, K.  Hovhannisyan, died as a result of chronic malnutrition, protein and  energy deficiency.

"The blocking of the Lachin corridor has a negative impact on the  realization of the right to health care of the people, taking into  consideration the prohibitions on the transfer of patients in need of  medical care to Armenia. The transportation of patients and  transportation of medical supplies is carried out with the  intervention of the ICRC and Russian peacekeepers. At the same time,  since June 15, the Azerbaijani side has completely blocked the  delivery of humanitarian aid by Russian peacekeepers and the ICRC,  leading to the worsening of the humanitarian situation. There have  been cases of shortage of medicines, and in some cases, the complete  absence of medicines.

"At the same time, in the absence of sufficient food, there has been  an increase in the number of premature births in NK. A case of death  of an unborn child was also registered in Haterk village of Martakert  region.  The pregnant woman could not reach the hospital on time  because of fuel shortage for emergency vehicles.

"Since July 25 due to an acute shortage of fuel public transport has  not been functioning at all.

"On July 29, fundamental violations by the Azerbaijani authorities  were recorded during the process of transferring patients to Armenia  through ICRC. In particular, Azerbaijan abducted 68-year-old Vagif  Khachatryan from the checkpoint located in the vicinity of the Hakari  bridge, who was being transported to Armenia for medical treatment  accompanied by the ICRC. The results of the Defender's study prove  that the unlawful interference with the fundamental rights of a  person is being carried out in a violation of international legal  guarantees and standards.

"Issues related to the provision of drinking water as a result of  electricity supply failures were also recorded, affecting both the  quantity and quality of water provided to the residents of NK. The  Defender considers it necessary to emphasize again that the current  humanitarian catastrophe is a direct manifestation of the ethnic  cleansing and genocidal policy by the Azerbaijani authorities incited  and adduced by Armenophobia, the ultimate goal of which is to empty  Nagorno-Karabakh of its indigenous Armenian population, through  terrorizing them, subjecting them to constant physical and  psychological attacks and pressures, depriving them of their normal  life and creating desperate conditions for life. 

"The Human Rights Defender especially emphasizes the urgency to stop  the irreversible and intensifying developments of the humanitarian  disaster, as well as the extreme necessity to provide real  opportunities for the implementation of humanitarian missions. At the  same time, the Defender's office continues to collect and analyze  facts on a daily basis regarding the Armenophobic policy of the  Azerbaijani authorities, as well as the continuous gross violations  of human rights in Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of the blocking of  the Lachin corridor, and comprehensively present them to  international organizations with a human rights mandate. I attach  great importance to the appropriate response of international  organizations with a mandate to protect human rights and to take  effective steps as a matter of urgency."