The fact-finding work of the staff of the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia has established that on 6 June 2021, at around 13:30, Azerbaijani military personnel attempted to steal about 20 horses belonging to the shepherd (a resident of the summer pasture) of the Verin Shorzha pasture in the Vardenis community of Gegharkunik Province. We learn this from the Facebook page of the RA Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan:
“In particular, the shepherd’s 20 horses, while grazing, came slightly closer to the Azerbaijani positions that are illegally deployed on the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia.
The Azerbaijani armed personnel, taking advantage of the opportunity, came down towards the pasture to meet the horses and attempted to steal all of them.
It was thanks to the fire opened by the servicemen of the RA Armed Forces that the Azerbaijani servicemen’s attempt at theft was prevented.
The incident took place in the Verin Shorzha pasture of the Vardenis community. Here, during the seasonal months — spring, summer and autumn — civilian residents live and graze their small and large cattle in the pasture (these places are commonly referred to as summer pastures).
The Human Rights Defender’s fact-finding work continuously confirms that Azerbaijani armed personnel display overt criminal acts against the border residents of the Republic of Armenia.
In fact, they open fire with direct intent against the civilian population of the Republic of Armenia, with the aim of depriving them of life and other vital rights, of the opportunity to engage in livestock breeding and to earn the family income.
These criminal acts against the civilian residents of the Republic of Armenia in Gegharkunik began when, starting from 12 May, they illegally invaded the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia citing false maps.
These criminal acts of the Azerbaijani armed forces must be viewed in a unified context, taking into account that they commit the same acts against the residents — shepherds — of the border villages of the Syunik Province of the Republic of Armenia, as well as of other villages of the Gegharkunik Province of the Republic of Armenia.
The ongoing fact-finding work clearly demonstrates that these acts of the Azerbaijani armed forces, which grossly violate the rights of the border residents of the Republic of Armenia, are linked to the policy of Armenophobia and enmity sponsored by the Azerbaijani authorities.
The protection of the rights of the population of the Republic of Armenia from the criminal acts of the Azerbaijani armed forces absolutely urgently requires the existence of a security zone.
Today’s incident once again clearly shows who is truly undermining people’s security in the region and the prospects for restoring peace,” Tatoyan stated.
