The Open Letter of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Catherine Russell, the UNICEF Executive Director

The statement of the head of UNICEF's Yerevan Office dated December 27, 2022 regarding the sovereign territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan, exceeding her mandate and powers is regrettable. The views indicated in the statement are biased and damage UNICEF's reputation.

Thus, the words in the statement, such as "the closure of the Lachin Corridor affects children, restricting their access to basic services necessary for their survival, healthy growth and well-being" do not reflect the realities.

As you know the rights of Azerbaijani children, including the right to life, which have been proclaimed in the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child, have been severely violated for nearly thirty years as a result of the policy of Armenia.      

The killing of 613 people, including 63 children, in the Khojaly genocide, as well as the death of 9-year-old Fariz Badalov in Agdam district in 2011, deaths of Zahra Guliyeva, who was not yet 2 years old in Fuzuli district in 2017 together with her grandmother as a result of the indiscriminate attacks of the Armenian armed forces on civilian settlements, the death of 13-year-old Aygun Shahmaliyeva, who was killed as a result of the detonation of an explosive device installed inside a children's toy by Armenia and dropped into the river in Tovuz district are only some of clear examples of child victims of war crimes committed by Armenia.

In addition, there are also many children among about 4,000 Azerbaijanis who went missing in the First Karabakh War and whose whereabouts are not still known.

Armenia has constantly committed gross violations of many international legal norms, including the 1949 Geneva Conventions, the CRC.

Also, indiscriminate attacks on civilian objects and the destruction of many residential houses, educational and health institutions led to the violation of children's rights to education, health and other rights. Furthermore, the children have been exposed to psychological trauma due to the intensive firing.

In 2020, the Patriotic War (the Second Karabakh War) had resulted in the killing of 12 children, and wounding of other 67 and many children lost their parents as a result of the heavy artillery and long-range rocket attacks on the civilian settlements in a number of cities and districts of Azerbaijan by the Armenian military.

I would like to note with regret that despite our repeated appeals and statements addressed to international organizations, including UNICEF, regarding Armenia’s serious violations of human rights, no calls or statements have been made to end such violent actions, on the contrary, similar crimes have been met with silence, and double standards have been demonstrated.

I would like to once again state that the rights of everyone, including a child’s right, are respected without any discrimination on the basis of national, religious, racial and other grounds, and they are ensured to live in peace, multiculturalism, and tolerance in Azerbaijan. 

We want to remind once again that peaceful action held on the Khankendi - Lachin road does not create any restrictions on the free movement of vehicles around transportation humanitarian for purposes. So, there are no obstacles to the provision of necessary goods and medical services for residents of Armenian origin, including children, living in the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan.

As the Ombudsperson of Azerbaijan, I should point out once again that we are ready to provide assistance to our citizens of Armenian origin living in the territory of Azerbaijan if any necessary needs arise.

Taking into account the above, I call on UNICEF to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, to demonstrate a neutral and impartial position, and invite you to cooperate in the field of human rights protection.

Sincerely,

Sabina Aliyeva

The Commissioner for Human Rights 

(Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan

30 December 2022