Armenia\’s Ombudsman Calls World Community Reaction to Azerbeijani Aggression Inadequate

YEREVAN — Armenia has called on international organizations to get involved in the situation along the border with Azerbaijan, where three civilians were killed and two wounded by Azerbaijani gunfire on September 24.

Ombudsman Karen Andreasian warned in a statement on September 25 that “as there is no adequate reaction by the international community to the killings of civilians in Armenia’s Tavush region bordering with Azerbaijan, [Armenia’s] only choice would be a counterattack to defend itself.”

The Ombudsman has called on international structures, including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, the International Ombudsman Institute, the EU Commissioner of Human Rights, the European Ombudsman Institute, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Human Rights Watch and other international partners to engage in the current hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“Yesterday Azerbaijan severely violated the 3rd Article of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons, which prohibits any assault on the life and health of persons taking no active part in military actions.”

“Besides, the Convention prohibits any attack on the settlement populated by civilians. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan has attacked the houses in Armenia’s border villages and cultivated lands,” the Ombudsman said.