Statement of the Human Rights Commissioner of the Republic of Azerbaijan with regard to targeting of civilians, in particular, of children by the Armenian army

As a result of the next provocation committed by the Armenian armed forces on August 7, 2017, with the goal of deliberate destruction of the civillians by firing the Garalar village of Tovuz region bordering with Armenia,  from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, a resident of Garalar village -  13 years old boy from that village, Yusifov Ramin Sabir oglu, with birthdate of 2004, was hospitalized in a heavy condition by receiving multiple debris injuries.

The cruel deeds with the nature of targeting and killing civilians, in particular, children, are an integral part of the continued terroristic policy pursued by invader Armenia.

On July 4, 2017, the residential settlements resided densely by civil population in Alkhanli village of Fizuli district and civil facilities were fired in a targeted manner and deliberately with heavy grenade-guns by the Armenian armed forces, as a result of which, an elderly woman resident Allahverdiyeva Sahiba with birthdate of 1967 and her 2 years old granddaughter Guliyeva Zahra were killed, another civilian woman, Guliyeva Salminaz with  birthdate of 1965 was seriously injured and civil facilities were destroyed.

As seen, Armenia is continuing its rude violation of the requirements of international humanitarian legal norms by intensively firing the borderline positions of our Army and the territories of civilians with large-caliber weapons without giving up its aggressive actions.

The military aggression lasting over 25 years against Azerbaijan resulting with killing of thousands of innocent people by the Armenian armed forces, the grave and mass violation of human rights, and full destruction of historical, religious and cultural monuments belonging to world culture, should be assessed as a next criminal act being the continuation of ethnic cleansing and terror acts and efficient measures should be taken for punishing those, who commit these crimes in line with international legal norms.   

The reliance of impunity environment has led to such an extent that despite the strong condemnation by the international community of the cruelties committed numerously, especially, the targeting of children and women, Armenia did not refrain from committing its next crime resulting with the injury of a 13 year old boy Ramin Yusifov on August 7. 

As a consequence of a military aggression initiated from 1988 and continued for a long time without pause by Armenia, the Nagorno-Karabakh territories of Azerbaijan and adjacent seven districts, in total 20 percent of the country territories were occupied; one million of our compatriots were compelled to live as refugees and internally displaced people.

On 2-5 April, 2016, due to intensive firing of line of contact positions of Azerbaijani Armed Forces, numerous residential settlements resided by civilians, schools and other social infrastructures by Armenian armed forces with heavy artillery, large-caliber weapons, 34 civilians were injured, 6 persons were killed with a child among them.

The direct and deliberate attacks by Armenia towards Azerbaijani civil population and civil infrastructures are the serious violations of international humanitarian law and children’s rights, in particular, of Geneva conventions dated 1949 and its #1 Annex and the Convention on Protection of Children’s, Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

These occurrences once again prove the ignorant attitude demonstrated towards international legal norms by Armenia confirming again its agressive policy and inhumane actions. 

In this respect, by appealing to the world community, reputable international agencies and our counterparts, I am calling not only to condemn, but also take decisive actions in order to put an end to the long-term Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan, to killing of peaceful population, and mass violations of human rights.

The international community should not stay indifferent to such cruel and inhumane actions. Due to this international crime, the Armenia, as an aggressor country, should be held responsible and punished according to the UN Charter.

Elmira Suleymanova

The Commissioner for Human Rights

(Ombudsman)

of the Republic of Azerbaijan

9 August, 2017