On May 2, the Human Rights Defender, Ms. Anahit Manasyan conducted a working visit to the border settlements of Gegharkunik province.
The visit of the Defender aimed to carry out fact-finding activities on human rights violations on the spot, collect facts and evidence confirming the violations, and get acquainted with the issues of concern to the civilian population.
The data collected as a result of the visit prove that the Azerbaijani servicemen continue to manifest aggressive behavior, threaten the villagers with weapons, and often fire shots in the immediate vicinity of the settlements. The fact that the houses and civil infrastructures of the residents of the border settlements are being targeted is strictly worrying.
The Defender's first stop was the Gavar community. Gegharkunik Province Governor, Mr. Karen Sargsyan presented to Anahit Manasyan the current issues in the province. The Defender assured that the human rights violations recorded during the visit will be presented to the competent bodies and partner international organizations in order to find possible solutions to the issues.
Further, the Human Rights Defender visited the extended community of Vardenis. A meeting was held with the Head of the community, Mr. Aharon Khachatryan, who presented the existing and urgent issues to the Defender. After that, the Defender visited the border settlements of Verin Shorzha, including Sarateghi, Kut, Norabak, Sotk and Kutakan.
Ms. Anahit Manasyan talked to the residents of the above-mentioned settlements. They expressed concerns about their life and safety, physical and mental immunity, property, education and other fundamental rights. Residents raised issues on the use of pastures,
grasslands and arable land. In addition, they noted that in the current conditions it became difficult to engage in animal husbandry and provide their families with vital necessities.
The Human Rights Defender emphasizes that the use of force and the threat of use of force by the Azerbaijani servicemen also pursuit the aim of terrorizing the residents of the border settlements.
As mentioned above, other collected facts will be summarized in the Office of the Human Rights Defender and will be presented to the competent international organizations and other actors, as well as to the competent state bodies.
Earlier, on April 14, Ms. Anahit Manasyan conducted a working visit to Tegh community of Syunik province.
