The RA Ministry of Defense has denied reports of an Azerbaijani advance toward the Nerkin Hand settlement in the Syunik Province.
“That densely forested and difficult-to-observe area of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, which, according to Soviet maps, is located about 600 m deep within RA territory, came under Azerbaijani control in the spring of last year. Preliminary fortification work began immediately thereafter. In particular, trenches were dug, which, however, due to the lack of proper furnishing, were not suitable for habitation in winter conditions. For that very reason, the majority of Azerbaijani servicemen, lacking sufficient living conditions to organize combat duty in the said section during the winter, were forced to leave.
Anticipating changes in weather conditions, they returned and, in the area adjacent to the trenches they themselves had previously dug, on the same line, without advancing, set up tents,” stated in the RA Ministry of Defense’s clarification.
The military department also addressed the claim that the village has come under Azerbaijani observation and noted that there are two villages with the same name.
It should be noted that the Human Rights Defender’s working group dispatched to the Syunik Province (Nerkin Hand settlement) carried out urgent fact-finding work.
In the RA Human Rights Defender’s Office’s statement, in particular, it is said: “For the fact-finding work, the information gathered by the Human Rights Defender’s staff’s Syunik regional division was of great importance, since, before receiving public alerts, our Syunik regional representatives were in constant contact with the Kapan community administration, including the administrative head of Nerkin Hand.
During its visit to the Nerkin Hand settlement, the fact-finding working group met with the settlement’s administrative head and residents, observed on site the cemetery, the memorial dedicated to the victims of the Great Patriotic War, and the areas adjacent to the village site called Shinatagh, and documented the problems of realizing residents’ rights.
As a result of conversations and discussions, it was recorded that the deployment of Azerbaijani armed forces in early March 2022 on the hill adjacent to the Nor Hand cemetery, the memorial dedicated to the victims of the Great Patriotic War, and the village site called Shinatagh, including the placement of several tents and the new roads being built to their rear from their positions, is new. Residents had not previously noticed Azerbaijani servicemen or any positions in the said area, noting that as recently as two months ago they had collected wood from that location.
In the current situation, it is important to note that the main occupation of the residents of the Nerkin Hand settlement is livestock breeding and farming.
As a result of the new positioning by Azerbaijani armed forces, the settlement’s cemetery, the memorial dedicated to the victims of the Great Patriotic War, the church, as well as a large part of the village’s pastures — about 50 hectares — as well as several villagers’ arable lands and orchards have come under direct aim and observation. For residents engaged in livestock breeding and agriculture, this situation has created the most serious difficulties in earning their livelihood.
The working group also recorded that on March 16, 2022, the Syunik governor and representatives of the Ministry of Defense’s command staff met with residents in the Nerkin Hand settlement. In addition, in recent days, the head of the Kapan community and his deputies have held regular meetings with residents.
During the visit, the working group also held meetings with the head of the Kapan community, the Syunik provincial administration, and other competent officials.
The Human Rights Defender will continue to pursue the resolution of the problems of border settlements, including the residents of Nerkin Hand.”
