Today’s Main Issue is the Withdrawal of Azerbaijani Armed Forces from Near Our Villages: Ombudsman

The Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan, writes on his Facebook page: "Dear compatriots, I appeal to all of you as the Armenian Human Rights Defender, who has a constitutional obligation to protect your rights and freedoms. Yes, today the main issue is the withdrawal of Azerbaijani armed forces from Gegharkunik and Syunik (not just the May 2021 incursions) near our villages and roads along the entire length of the contact line, as a fundamental guarantee for the protection of our population's rights. This is not a statement made 'in the air.' Is this approach realistic? Yes, but we must act quickly and target-oriented, rather than letting opportunities slip away or dismissing them and later claiming they are unrealistic.

For example, when Azerbaijani armed forces closed the Goris-Kapan road, why did we not immediately appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, and at that time, we could have raised the issue of interim measures to remove Azerbaijani armed forces from there and open the road? But what did we do? We allowed the discussion of the excellent alternative routes and ignored the violations of rights with political statements like 'how safe and good life is in Syunik,' 'it’s their territory, we can do nothing.' This nullified that opportunity.

Moreover, we can still appeal to the ECHR for the specific purpose of removing Azerbaijani armed forces and protecting the rights of our border residents. Or why haven’t we initiated, for example, a UN Special Rapporteur's mission to come and document the violations so we can use that to achieve the removal of Azerbaijani armed forces? How is it that, based on the proposal of the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia, the concept of a demilitarized zone was enshrined in the September 27, 2021 resolution of the PACE?

Why do some of our officials cut security from the individual and his rights, discussing everything from a geopolitical perspective? We should not allow these issues to be relegated only to general political statements and the military domain, overshadowing human rights. Therefore, the issues of security and human rights are of such importance that every opportunity, big or small, must be used for the necessary purpose rather than being deemed unrealistic due to general doubts. The facts are sufficient for accurate actions. It is easy to do nothing, ignore or deny the facts of violations, and then say it is unrealistic."