Ombudsman: Drunk Azeri troops open fire near Armenian villages

Ombudsman: Drunk Azeri troops open fire near Armenian villages

PanARMENIAN.Net - Azerbaijani troops, often in a state of intoxication, open fire from small and large-caliber weapons in the immediate vicinity of border villages in Armenia's Syunik Province, the Human Rights Defender reports.

Namely, villagers and community representatives have informed the Human Rights Defender that shootings take place regularly, both during the day and at night. According to the residents, the shots are clearly heard in the villages, aimed at intimidating civilians and, first of all, children and women.

At the same time, the villagers observed that there are frequent cases when the shots of the Azerbaijani military are fired while they are drunk. It is then that the shooting intensifies and large-caliber weapons are used.

"These criminal and absolutely condemnable acts must be completely stopped. They have become a real threat to the rights to life and health, physical and psychological integrity and other rights of civilians of Armenia, recognized internationally and guaranteed by the Constitution of Armenia. These shootings particularly and grossly violate the welfare of the children," Omdusman Arman Tatoyan said.

"The incidents further reinforce the Human Rights Defender's assessment that the presence of Azerbaijani armed forces in the immediate vicinity of Armenia's civilian border communities and on inter-community and interstate roads is a real threat to the lives and rights of the civilians."

Tatoayan also revealed that all findings on the matter will be sent to international organizations, including the OSCE, the UN and the Council of Europe.

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