Baku hosts photo exhibition dedicated to mine victims PHOTO

Baku has hosted a poignant photo exhibition titled "Feet Pressing the Button," dedicated to the victims of landmines planted by Armenians during the occupation of Azerbaijani lands.

The event was organized by the public association “Gilavar Photo Club” as part of its project "Point of Danger Culmination." 

This exhibition aims to raise awareness about the tragic impact of landmines on innocent lives, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

The exhibition showcased 50 powerful photographs that capture the stories of individuals who have fallen victim to landmines over the years. Renowned photographers Famil Mahmudbayli, Dilavar Najafov, Yagub Jafarov, and Rashad Mehdiyev were behind the lens, providing a vivid representation of the lives affected by this ongoing danger.

Notably, these evocative images were also exhibited for two days in the central squares of Prague, highlighting the international dimension of the project.

After the exhibition, the photographs were generously donated to the Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) for future use and display at international events and conferences. This ensures that the stories of mine victims continue to reach a broader audience and promote dialogue on the critical issue of landmines.

In addition to the exhibition, the "Point of Danger Culmination" project produced two educational videos and an electronic photo book. The photo book offers a comprehensive look at the lives of mine victims, including their current conditions, a chronology of mine incidents, and various statistical data.

The project received support from the Agency for State Support of Non-Governmental Organisations, underscoring the commitment to addressing the humanitarian impact of landmines and fostering awareness of this critical issue.

To recap, since the beginning of Armenia’s aggression against Azerbaijan in the early 1990s, over 3,400 people in Azerbaijan have suffered from landmine explosions, including 358 children and 38 women.

Since the end of the 44-day Second Karabakh War of 2020, the Azerbaijani government has been conducting demining operations, led by the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA), in the liberated territories to facilitate the return of internally displaced people to their homes.

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

By Khagan Isayev