Armenia’s mine terror continues

Landmines and unexploded ordnance planted by Armenia during the occupation in our territories continue to pose a serious threat to the life and health of civilians and military services.

Thus, yesterday, five servicemen of the Azerbaijani Army sustained injuries of varying degrees as a result of a mine explosion in the territory of the Kalbajar district.

The mines that were massively planted across the territory of Azerbaijan and for which accurate maps have not been provided to date, continue to pose a grave threat to the life and health of innocent people. These mines also hinder the safe return of former internally displaced persons to their native lands, obstruct the ongoing reconstruction and restoration works in the liberated territories, and cause significant environmental damage, leading to the disruption of ecological balance in the region.

Despite the repeated appeals of our side to international organizations regarding the submission of accurate minefield maps of the liberated territories, the Armenian side continues to violate the requirements of international humanitarian law by refusing to provide this vital information.

As the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, I once again call on the relevant international organizations to exert serious pressure on Armenia to ensure the handover of accurate minefield maps to Azerbaijan and to strongly condemn the committed military and environmental crimes, as well as violations of international humanitarian law.