The Response of the Ombudsman to News Agency “AZƏRTAC” 's inquiry regarding Armenia’s failure to provide accurate maps of the mines buried during the occupation period in the territories of Azerbaijan

The ideas voiced by the Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan during the press conference confirm the existence of accurate maps of mines buired in the territories of Azerbaijan during the occupation period and that they were not provided to our country in order to intentionally kill human beings.

The mine terrorism committed by Armenia hinders building and construction works in our liberated territories, jeopardizes the lives and health of civilians, and delays the safe return of the population to their ancestral homes. Since the First Karabakh War until today, the detonation of mines planted by the Armenian armed forces in our lands has resulted in the harm of more than 3,400 of our citizens, including 357 children and 38 women. Consequently, the norms and principles of international humanitarian law were severely violated by Armenia.

Despite repeated appeals, Armenia has denied the existence of accurate maps of minefields and has not handed them over to our country, and the accuracy rate of minefield maps provided until today is only 25 percent. The recent admission by the Foreign Minister of Armenia once again confirms that this country has committed war crimes and engaged in mine terrorism against Azerbaijan.

Sabina Aliyeva

The Commissioner for Human Rights 

(Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan

24 January 2024