Presidential aide concerned over rising number of landmine victims in Azerbaijan PHOTO

Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev has shared a publication on social network X in connection with the mine threat in the country.   

"Landmine victims in Azerbaijan continue to grow. Azerbaijan is suffering from the consequences of Armenia’s 30 year long military occupation," Hajiyev wrote, per Caliber.Az. 

In the latest related incident, on November 10, an Azerbaijani serviceman was injured after stepping on a landmine in the Goranboy district.

The incident occurred near the village of Gulustan, where the mine was planted by Armenian armed forces.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the serviceman, identified as Gadim Khalig oglu Ibrahimov, sustained injuries from the antipersonnel mine. In response, he was swiftly evacuated to the nearest military medical facility for treatment. According to the Ministry, his condition is currently stable.

Notably, Armenia’s mining activities during its occupation of Azerbaijani territories have had devastating consequences. Over 1.5 million landmines were planted, making Azerbaijan one of the most mine-contaminated countries globally. This policy of "mine terrorism" has caused extensive harm to Azerbaijani civilians. Since the end of the Second Karabakh War, 382 Azerbaijanis have fallen victim to landmines, with 70 killed and 312 seriously injured. In total, over 3,400 people have been affected by mines, including nearly 600 deaths, with 359 of them children and 38 women.

Mines are also obstructing humanitarian efforts, hindering the search for mass graves, the identification of victims, and the exhumation of bodies. The slow demining process at burial sites has added to the suffering of families waiting for news about their missing relatives.

Azerbaijan has undertaken large-scale demining operations since the war, with over 90% of these efforts funded internally. By October 2024, more than 152,000 hectares were demined by the Azerbaijani Mine Action Agency (ANAMA), the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the State Border Service, four national commercial companies, and the national NGO "International Eurasian Press Fund" (BAMF). However, Azerbaijan has limited external support for these efforts, as Armenia has refused to provide accurate minefield maps, complicating the process.

International experts estimate that it will take Azerbaijan about 30 years to fully de-mine its liberated territories, during which further casualties are expected. Azerbaijan has been active in global forums such as the Non-Aligned Movement and UNESCO, calling for international recognition of the impact of landmines on cultural heritage and the need for support in demining efforts.

Azerbaijan urges the international community to condemn Armenia’s mine terrorism, demand the provision of mine maps, and offer assistance for demining operations. As Azerbaijan's Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) Sabina Aliyeva stated, Armenia’s failure to provide accurate minefield maps severely violates the right to life and health, hinders the safe return of displaced persons, and disrupts reconstruction efforts. The detonation of mines has also caused environmental damage, including water and air pollution, soil degradation, and an overall environmental crisis. Aliyeva called on the international community to hold Armenia accountable for its war and environmental crimes, as well as its humanitarian violations.

By Khagan Isayev