Presence of Azerbaijani servicemen in direct neighborhood of Syunik communities illegal - Armenian Ombudsman

Armenia’s President Armen Sarkissian and Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan jointly visited Khnatsakh village of Armenia’s Syunik province.

“The prior issue in Khnatskah is the restoration of rights of the residents of the community violated after Azerbaijani armed forces appeared directly in the neighborhood of the village. Due to security issues the residents of the village cannot use their lands and gardens…. As a result people are being deprived of the source of family income,” the statement issued by the Ombudsman’s office says.

It also says that other rights of the residents, their health, physical and psychological immunity and other internationally recognized rights are violated.

The president and the ombudsman also conducted discussions in Goris with the head of Goris community and heads of a number of settlements.

The participants of the discussion referred to the rights of people in the communities, the issues they are facing.

“It is obvious that the presence of the servicemen of the Azerbaijani armed forces in the neighborhood of communities of Syunik province has no legal basis and is illegal. This conclusion has concrete legal grounding which makes their presence illegal,” the statement reads.

It also added that a security zone must be created to ensure the human rights in Syunik.

The administrations of the president and the office of the ombudsman will sum up the results of the joint visit and undertake relevant steps in the sidelines of their authorities, including joint ones.