HRD: Azerbaijanis target Armenian civilian settlements in fresh attack

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan received alarming information from at least two communities of Gegharkunik Province about the Azerbaijani armed forces firing directly on civilian residences between 03:30am and 03:40 am on July 28, Tatoyan said in a statement.

According to the residents, the shootings only ceased after the suppressive actions of the Armenian Armed Forces.

"In recent days, the Human Rights Defender's Office has been regularly receiving alarms from residents that Azerbaijani servicemen are constantly firing on the villages of Verin Shorzha and Kut in Gegharkunik province, disrupting the peaceful life of the entire village," Tatoyan wrote

"The Human Rights Defender specifically notes that these regular acts of the Azerbaijani armed forces grossly violate the right to life and health of civilians in the villages of Gegharkunik, disrupt peaceful life, and prevent them from engaging in agriculture."

In the wee hours of July 28, the units of the Azerbaijani armed forces, which had infiltrated the sovereign territory of Armenia since May 12, attacked the Armenian positions located in the north-eastern section of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, triggering local battles. Three Armenian troops were killed, two others were wounded in the process, the Defense Ministry said, adding that the Azerbaijani forces have been thwarted back to their positions.