The Ombudsman's reaction to the statement of some special rapporteurs and an independent expert of the UN Human Rights Council regarding the situation on the Khankendi-Lachin road

As it is known, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which is one of the basic documents declaring human rights and freedoms, constitutes the principles of ensuring the equality of all people and prohibiting discrimination, regardless of race, gender, language, religion, origin, and political beliefs.

We believe that this text should serve as the primary source of reference for UN member states and the institutions that comprise the UN human rights protection mechanism system.

However, the fact that the UN special rapporteurs and experts, failing to express any reaction, remaining silent or deliberately turning a blind eye to the occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia for 30 years, gross violation of the fundamental rights and freedoms of more than one million refugees and former IDPs, to ethnic cleansing, genocide and other war crimes, to the fate of nearly four thousand missing Azerbaijanis, as well as to the mine terrorism, which is a serious obstacle for former IDPs to return to their native homes after the liberation of Azerbaijani lands from occupation, deliver statements that serve biased political goals and do not reflect the truth should first be considered as a disregard for the norms and principles established by the UN and as double standards.

In addition to our statements addressed to international and regional human rights protection organizations, we would like to point out once again that there are no obstacles on the Khankendi-Lachin road to the passage of humanitarian vehicles and residents of the Armenian origin living in Karabakh, and Azerbaijan is providing safe passage on that road through the "Lachin" state border crossing point.

Azerbaijan established the "Lachin" state border crossing point in its sovereign territory recognized by the UN with the aim of ensuring the rights and freedoms and security of its citizens. At the same time, in its relevant decision, the International Court of Justice recognized the legitimacy of this step.

We call on some special rapporteurs and independent expert of the UN Human Rights Council once again to carry out their activities in accordance with the principles established by the UN, to avoid double standards, to refrain from making statements that hinder the peace-building process in the region and create conditions for the escalation of the situation, to take effective measures against Armenia, which is constantly causing provocations in the region, and to support Azerbaijan's efforts to ensure peace and security.

Sabina Aliyeva

The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman)

 of the Republic of Azerbaijan

August 8, 2023