According to official statements of the Ministry of Defense of RA and the Defense Forces of NKR between April 1 and the night of April 2 the Azerbaijani side has initiated offensive operations.

As a result of these unbridled operations the Armenian civilian settlements are being the target of artillery and missile shelling. Sadly, a child was killed and two were wounded.

The Human Rights Defender of RA strongly condemns the attacks on civilian settlements and civilians.

These actions constitute international law crimes that infringe the right to life and are subject to condemnation and punishment with all the severity of international law provisions and with no exception. The absolute prohibition of military actions against civilian settlements and civilians is at the core of international humanitarian law. The civilian population in whole, and more specifically the children and women, are entitled to special protection.

The Human Rights Defender of RA is conducting continuous examination of impermissible actions carried out by the Azerbaijani side against civilian settlements with the objective of,  and to the extent that the peculiarities of its standing permit, to bring these events to the international bodies’ attention, and make them a mandatory matter for discussion.

Office of the Human Rights Defender of

The Republic of Armenia