The Human Rights Defender received a call this morning from a resident of Kut village, Geghamasar community, Gegharkunik province, that an armed incident had taken place near the village in the early morning of May 27. Shots were heard in the village and the Azerbaijani armed forces kidnapped Armenian servicemen.
Investigations by Armenia’s Human Rights Defender’s Office, including the Gegharkunik subdivision, confirmed that the incident took place in the immediate vicinity of Kut village, Geghamasar community, Gegharkunik province. The incident also caused tension in the village, among civilians.
The official statement of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia also stated that six servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia were carrying out engineering works in the protection area of the N military unit, and the Azerbaijani servicemen were surrounded and taken prisoner.
As a result of fact-finding work, the Human Rights Defender has repeatedly stated that since May 12, 2021, the Azerbaijani military, having been in the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia with reference to blatantly false maps, has illegally advanced on the civilian settlements of Gegharkunik and Syunik. The shepherds of Gegharkunik and Syunik villages were threatened with displaying weapons, provoking provocations in the immediate vicinity of the villages, creating tension among the civilian population, depriving the border residents of their legal right to use their pastures and pastures.
“International organizations must take into account the real link between these factors and reassess who is actually disrupting peace and tranquility in the region and what are the real causes of human rights violations and atrocities.
The mentioned additionally confirms that the Azerbaijani authorities are obliged to release six Armenian servicemen immediately.”
