Emergency Ambulance Was Marked and Equipped Properly: Ombudsman's Statement on Sotk Incident

The targeting of an ambulance and medical personnel constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law norms. The Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia has issued a statement regarding today's Azerbaijani provocation in Sotk, which resulted in the death of a 20-year-old soldier and injuries to a paramedic.

The statement emphasizes that the investigation of the facts provides grounds to conclude that there was intent to harm both the ambulance and the soldier as well as the medical personnel. The Ombudsman noted: “The ambulance transporting the injured soldier was marked and equipped correctly.”

It is recalled that on May 17, at around 16:15, Azerbaijani Armed Forces opened fire towards the Armenian positions located in the Sotk area, injuring an Armenian Ministry of Defense serviceman. Subsequently, Azerbaijani forces fired towards the ambulance transporting the injured serviceman. The paramedic was also injured from the gunfire directed at the ambulance.

Later, the Ministry of Defense reported that the serviceman had sustained life-threatening gunshot wounds and died before being transported to the hospital.