Azerbaijani top official calls Armenia-planted mines in Karabakh "silent death", blaming Yerevan for civilian casualties PHOTO

Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev has highlighted the threat posed by mines planted by Armenia in the previously-occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

In a post on X, Hajiyev called the mines a “silent death”, noting that official Yerevan is directly responsible for this problem, Caliber.Az reports.

“The Humanitarian Toll of Landmines on Azerbaijan. 'Silent death' - implanted by Armenia deliberately in millions in formerly occupied territories of Azerbaijan causing severe consequences, taking the lives of civilians, leaving people permanently disabled, and leading to serious psychological trauma,” the official wrote.

He added, “Armenia bears responsibility for this at the state level. In the South Caucasus region, Armenia continues to remain the biggest producer of landmines.”

It is crucial to note that, in 2025, incidents of landmine explosions continue to be recorded in Azerbaijan, caused by mines planted by Armenia in previously occupied territories.

According to Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry, another incident occurred in the Khojaly district, resulting in injuries to a civilian. Since the end of the Second Karabakh War in 2020, the total number of landmine victims has reached 383 people, with 70 killed and 313 others sustaining various degrees of injuries.

In 2024 alone, 41 people in Azerbaijan fell victim to landmines—5 were killed and 36 were injured. According to statistics from the General Prosecutor’s Office, since the end of the 44-day war in 2020, the total number of landmine casualties stands at 382, with 70 fatalities and 312 people suffering various injuries.

Azerbaijani officials continue to call on the international community to support demining efforts, emphasising that the ongoing landmine contamination poses a severe threat to human lives and hinders the process of peaceful settlement and reconstruction in the affected regions. 

By Khagan Isayev