Armenia's landmine threat endangers Azerbaijani civilians Human Rights Commissioner says

Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Ombudsman) Sabina Aliyeva has said that Armenia's landmine terror continues threatening the lives and safety of civilians and military personnel.

Aliyeva made these remarks while commenting on the recent ammunition explosion in Zargar village in the Fuzuli district, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

The statement highlights that a civilian was injured in the explosion in Zargar village on August 24, which was liberated from occupation. Since the end of the second Karabakh war, over 370 people have fallen victim to landmines. 

"We reiterate that Armenia's failure to provide Azerbaijan with accurate maps of the minefields on our territories not only endangers the lives and safety of people but also severely hinders the safe return of former internally displaced people to their lands, the realisation of their right to a healthy environment, and the ongoing reconstruction in the region. The detonation of landmines disrupts the ecological balance in the region, causing an environmental crisis. The landmine terror by Armenia, which the international community remains silent about, not only threatens the lives and health of innocent people but also constitutes a violation of fundamental human rights and freedoms," she added.

Following the 2020 second Karabakh war, Azerbaijan gained control of territories that had been occupied by Armenian forces for nearly three decades. However, a significant challenge remained - extensive mine contamination. These mines pose a big threat to civilians attempting to return to their houses and livelihoods, as well as hindering reconstruction efforts.

The Azerbaijani government launched extensive mine clearance operations shortly after the war ended in November 2020. ANAMA is leading the demining efforts. ANAMA has deployed specialists and advanced equipment from various countries, including Türkiye, UK, Slovakia, and Croatia.

In July 2024, over 1,184 hectares of territory in Azerbaijan's liberated regions were fully cleared of mines by the Azerbaijani Army’s Engineering Troops, according to a report from the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry.

To date, the engineer-sapper units have cleared 39,721 hectares of land in these areas. They have detected and destroyed a total of 13,045 pieces of unexploded military ammunition, 3,318 anti-tank mines, and 10,463 anti-personnel mines.

Ongoing efforts include restoring social infrastructure and ensuring safety, with a focus on expediting road and infrastructure development in Azerbaijan's recently liberated areas.