The reaction of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the fact that graves belonging to Azerbaijanis were destroyed by Armenia during the occupation in Zangilan region

Another video showing acts of vandalism committed by Armenia against Azerbaijanis has been posted on social networks. As it can be seen from the video, graves in the cemetery where our compatriots are buried in the liberated Zangilan region were deliberately destroyed by Armenians, the tombstones were rendered unrecognizable.

All these facts convincingly prove that the military-political leadership of Armenia has been implementing a policy of hatred, enmity, intolerance and vandalism against Azerbaijan on ethnic and religious grounds for many years.

The brutal destruction of graves belonging to Azerbaijanis is a gross violation of the requirements of the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in Time of Armed Conflict, the 1972 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, and the 1954 European Cultural Convention.

We strongly condemn the destruction and desecration of religious monuments and cemeteries in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan, as well as the mining of these territories, and once again call on regional and international organizations, national human rights institutions to take the necessary measures to establish international legal responsibility against the military and political leadership of Armenia guilty of committing such numerous acts of vandalism.

Sabina Aliyeva

The Commissioner for Human Rights

(Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan

December  05, 2022