Azerbaijanis Approached Artsakh Citizens and Demanded to Cease Work, Reports Artsakh Prosecutor's Office

The Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Artsakh has issued a statement indicating that:

“In recent days, along the entire length of the Artsakh-Azerbaijan contact line, Azerbaijan has been actively using all efforts to intimidate the peaceful population and disrupt the ‘normal’ course of life. Targeted fire from various firearms has been directed at individuals engaged in agricultural activities in agricultural lands adjacent to the contact line, damaging agricultural machinery and forcing them to halt land cultivation or harvesting work. There have also been reported incidents where armed Azerbaijani soldiers approached Artsakh citizens working in orchards and, under the threat of using their weapons, demanded that they cease their work and leave the area.

Today, the Azerbaijani side again opened fire from various firearms at individuals engaged in agricultural work in the administrative territory of the village of Haci in the Martuni region, damaging a tractor, while in the Taghavard area, loud religious and ceremonial music was played.

All these criminal incidents are being recorded and documented by the law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Artsakh in accordance with the procedures established by criminal procedural legislation.

The Artsakh Prosecutor's Office has immediately reported the incidents to the prosecutor of the peacekeeping mission operating in Artsakh, calling on the Azerbaijani side to adhere to the agreements reached between the prosecutors general of the Russian Federation, Armenia, and Azerbaijan and to conduct a proper investigation to hold accountable those responsible for such actions. However, these appeals consistently go unanswered.

In order to refute the assertion that the criminal attacks against the citizens of the Republic of Artsakh are organized by the Azerbaijani authorities, Azerbaijan at least should criminally prosecute those individuals who committed such acts. However, not only are no steps being taken in this direction, but hatred against Armenians and its manifestations are encouraged through blatant and deliberate inaction.”