Azerbaijan’s Mine Action Agency: Armenia planted 1.5 million mines in Karabakh, East Zangezur

Chairman of the Board of Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA) Vugar Suleymanov has said that Azerbaijan is one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world.

Suleymanov made these remarks during public hearings on “Combating mine threat - the impact of explosive items on the ecosystem” in the Azerbaijani parliament, APA reports.

“During the occupation of our territories, Karabakh and East Zangezur, full of pure ecosystems, which are the cleanest and most beautiful natural regions of our country, were destroyed by Armenian military forces and, according to rough estimates, the territories were contaminated with about 1.5 million mines and explosives. This is about 480 tons of plastic containing harmful substances,” he added.

Suleymanov also said that 106,938.1 hectares of land were cleared in the post-war period in the territories of Azerbaijan liberated from occupation.

He noted that to date 12,514.7 hectares of land intended for environmental assessment and scientific research, 6,261.4 hectares of land intended for energy projects, 53,078.4 hectares for agriculture, 3,421 hectares for land reclamation and water management, 5,759 hectares for transport infrastructure, 20,118 hectares for reconstruction and development of residential infrastructure and 5,784.8 hectares of land intended for other purposes have been cleared of explosives.

"As a result, 30,539 anti-personnel mines, 18,303 anti-tank mines, 56,646 unexploded ordnance with a total number of 105,488 units were identified and neutralised on 106,938.1 hectares," Suleymanov stressed.

In turn, Azerbaijani Agriculture Minister Mejnun Mammadov noted that the territories liberated from the occupation are so heavily contaminated with mines that, despite all security measures, explosions are inevitable.

He said that, according to ANAMA, 10 mine explosions occurred during agricultural works in the liberated territories, as a result of which 7 people were killed, 8 people were injured, and 6 units of agricultural machinery were put out of operation.

After achieving victory over Armenia in the Patriotic War in early November 2020, Azerbaijan launched the process of demining the territories that Armenia had been holding under occupation for almost three decades.

Despite extensive efforts, demining operations faced many challenges due to Armenia’s refusal to hand over maps displaying the locations of the landmines.

Azerbaijan obtained minefield maps of the once-occupied Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Zangilan districts from Armenia, which reportedly identify the coordinates of 189,000 anti-tank and anti-personnel mines. Armenia also provided the Azerbaijani side with mine maps of other liberated territories of Azerbaijan. In exchange for maps, Azerbaijan released dozens of Armenian saboteurs detained in Azerbaijani territory after the war. However, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said the accuracy of these maps did not exceed 25 per cent.

AMAMA reported that the maps provided by Armenia were just 2 per cent effective in mine action. According to the Azerbaijani government data, international experts estimate that Azerbaijan needs nearly 30 years and $25 billion to solve issues related to demining.