Azerbaijani ombudsperson raises Karabakh landmine threat in meeting with German counterpart

Azerbaijan’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Sabina Aliyeva, held a meeting in Germany with Lars Castellucci, the Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Assistance of Germany.

The meeting was also attended by Nasimi Aghayev, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, Caliber.Az reports.

The discussions focused on a range of human rights issues, as well as the ongoing landmine threat in Azerbaijan’s territories liberated following the 2020 Second Karabakh War.

Sabina Aliyeva provided an overview of the Azerbaijani Ombudsman’s institutional activities, highlighting its work in protecting the rights of children and persons with disabilities, ensuring the right to access information, and combating all forms of discrimination. She emphasised the office’s ongoing commitment to promoting inclusive rights-based practices in Azerbaijan.

A significant portion of the meeting focused on the serious humanitarian threat posed by landmines in Azerbaijan’s formerly occupied territories. Aliyeva stressed that mines laid by Armenian forces continue to endanger the lives of civilians — particularly women and children — hinder the return of internally displaced persons, and obstruct reconstruction and development efforts.

Despite repeated international appeals, she noted, Armenia has not yet provided Azerbaijan with accurate and comprehensive maps of minefields in these areas, exacerbating the danger and complicating demining operations.

Aliyeva also drew attention to the fate of nearly 4,000 Azerbaijanis who went missing during the First Karabakh War in the early 1990s, stating that their whereabouts remain unknown more than three decades later. She underscored the importance of international cooperation and support in addressing these long-standing humanitarian concerns.

By Tamilla Hasanova