Azerbaijani ombudsman demands sanctions against Armenia for landmine terror

Azerbaijan Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) Sabina Aliyeva has said Armenia's mine terror continues to threaten the lives of civilians and servicemen of Azerbaijan.

She made a statement in connection with the October 6 mine blast, Caliber.Az reports.

“As a result of three mine incidents on October 6, one civilian was killed, and a serviceman of the Interior Ministry's Internal Troops and a civilian were wounded,” Aliyeva said.

The mines set up by Armenia in the liberated territories pose a serious obstacle to the safety of Azerbaijani civilians and military personnel, to the peacebuilding process in the region, to the implementation of ongoing infrastructure projects and to the return of former internally displaced persons to their homelands, she noted.

“Despite repeated requests, the refusal of the Armenian side to transfer accurate maps of mines to our country leads to the death of civilians and military personnel. This step by Armenia once again shows that they are not interested in restoring peace in the region,” the ombudsman said.

“As the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Azerbaijan, I strongly demand that Armenia hand over accurate mine maps to our country, demonstrate unity in establishing peace in the region, and call on the international community to impose appropriate sanctions against Armenia's mine terror,” Aliyeva added.

On October 6, at about 17:00 (Baku time), a resident of the Hasangaya village of the Tartar district died, following an explosion of an antipersonnel mine on the territory of the Chayli village of the same district.