Executive summary by Ani Harutyunyan, Advanced LLM, MA Data compilation and interviews: Marianna Khazhakyan and Elina Khachatryan; Peace Dialogue’s team expresses gratitude to Zaruhi Darbinyan for provided information.
Targeting Civilian Objects and Use of Munitions Forbidden under International Law.
A number of violations of the international humanitarian law which also lead to war crimes under international law were reported to be committed in the course of the Azerbaijani military operation against Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) and Armenia (See below). Azerbaijan is not a party to the Additional Protocols I and II of 1977 to the Geneva Conventions, while Armenia is. The Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) has declared its commitment to the adherence to the international humanitarian law conventions and customary rules. Despite Azerbaijan’s unwillingness to join the Additional Protocols it is bound by the customary international law of armed conflicts and the prohibition of war crimes under customary international law. This report considers the armed conflict between Azerbaijan and Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) international due to the established nature of the Artsakh’s de-facto statehood. In addition, the Additional Protocol I of 1977 to the Geneva Conventions regards the armed conflicts in the exercise of the people of their right to self-determination as international.
STEPANAKERT, NAGORNO KARABAKH — On the night of November 8, eight long-range missiles were fired at apartment buildings, residential areas, public facilities and other civilian infrastructure in the city. According to the State Service for Emergency Situations of the NKR, since the evening of November 7, the capital Stepanakert had been regularly shelled by the Azerbaijani armed forces from Grad and Smerch MRLS. Artsakh Ombudsman informed that as a result of the Azerbaijani strike the music school was destructed, a shop and a hostel burned down in Stepanakert. According to preliminary data, there are no victims.
STEPANAKERT, NAGORNO KARABAKH — According to Artsakh Ombudsman, on 6 November, the capital Stepanakert was regularly shelled by Azerbaijani military forces as a result of which three civilians, an elderly woman, Svetlana Mkrtchyan, and her two grandchildren, Erik Hakhumyan and Arkady Hakhumyan, were killed, a residential house was completely destroyed and neighboring houses were damaged.
NKR InfoCenter informed that during the day, Azerbaijani armed forces used cluster missiles in the direction of Stepanakert, causing huge material damage to the residents.
STEPANAKERT, NAGORNO KARABAKH — According to the State Service for Emergency Situations of the NKR, on 4 November, Azerbaijani armed forces shelled the residential districts of the capital Stepanakert with 120 mm mortars.According to preliminary data, there is one wounded civilian. There are also a number of destructions in the city.
Details are to be checked.
For details please, check also the following recourses:
Official Facebook Page of the State Service for Emergency Situations of the NKR — https://www.facebook.com/ (Photos);
SHUSHI, NAGORNO KARABAKH — On 3 November, the Azerbaijani forces fired in the direction of Shushi town from the “Smerch” MRLS. According to the State Service for Emergency Situations of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), two residential houses were burned.
STEPANAKERT, NAGORNO KARABAKH — On 3 November, the Azerbaijani military forces fired in the direction of mother and child health care center (Republican Medical Center of Stepanakert) in Stepanakert from the “Smerch” MRLS.
According to the State Service for Emergency Situations of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), two citizens are injured. As a result of the rocket fire on a residential area, a garage and a car were burned and nearby residential houses were seriously damaged.
For details please, check also the following recourses:
Official Facebook Page of the State Service for Emergency Situations of the NKR — https://www.facebook.com/ (in Russian and English);
Official Facebook Page of the State Service for Emergency Situations of the NKR — https://www.facebook.com/ (in Russian and English);
Official Facebook Page of the State Service for Emergency Situations of the NKR — https://www.facebook.com/ (Photos).
Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
PROHIBITED WEAPON USED BY THE AZERBAIJANI FORCE — On 3 November, the State Service for Emergency Situations of the NKR (Nagorno Karabakh) reported that a new weapon used by the Azerbaijan military forces appeared in the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Image Source: State Service for Emergency Situations of the NKR
According to the source, the study revealed that it was a weapon with a length of about 40 cm, the use of which is prohibited for the civilian population in accordance with the Geneva and other international conventions. This weapon is intended for mass destruction and comprehensive arson.
No other source did confirm or refute the statement.
For details please, check also the following recourses:
MARTUNI, SHUSHI, AND SHAHUMYAN REGION OF NAGORNO KARABAKH — On 3 November, at dawn, the Azerbaijani armed forces struck at the cities of Martuni and Shushi from Smerch MRLS.
According to the Armenian unified infocenter, throughout the day, military aviation was used in the direction of Martuni as well as MLRS missiles were used in Shahumyan region.
Factual materials are not available.
Monday, November 2, 2020.
DAVIT BEK VILLAGE, ARMENIA — on 2 November, at around 6:10 pm, Azerbaijani artillery fired on the positions of the RA Armed Forces in the settlement of Davit Bek. One civilian was killed and two others were wounded.
KHNUSHINAK VILLAGE, NAGORNO KARABAKH — As a result of targeting of peaceful settlements by Azerbaijani military forces, on November 1, one civilian, 53-year-old Armo Avanesyan, was killed in Khnushinak village of Martuni region, Artsakh Ombudsman Artak Beglaryan reported.
For details please, check also the following recourses:
Official Facebook Page of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) Ombudsman — https://www.facebook.com/ (in Russian and English).
Sunday, November 1, 2020.
ARAJADZOR VILLAGE, NAGORNO KARABAKH — According to Artsakh Ombudsman Artak Beglaryan’s statement, on 1 November, 67-year-old Seryozha Tsatryan was wounded as a result of a shell explosion in Arajadzor village of Martakert region.
For details please, check also the following recourses:
Official Facebook Page of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) Ombudsman — https://www.facebook.com/ (in Russian and English).
Sunday, November 1, 2020.
Photo source: www.mfa.am. Author: David GhahramnyanPhoto source: www.mfa.am. Author: David Ghahramnyan
SHUSHI, NAGORNO KARABAKH — At noon of November 1, Azerbaijani forces carried out rocket attacks on Shushi, mainly from Grad and Smerch launchers. Many structures in the city were ruined, including partial damage to the Persian Gohar Agha mosque, Yeznik Mozyan Vocational School, and Shushi Technological University.
ASKERAN, NAGORNO KARABAKH — On 1 November, Azerbaijan, with UAVs, deliberately targeted a fire engine, transporting drinking water from the town of Askeran to civilians in neighboring communities.
STEPANAKERT, NAGORNO KARABAKH — On 31 October, Azerbaijani armed forces targeted the civil infrastructure of the capital Stepanakert, including the Central Market of Stepanakert.
“After the meeting mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs and the agreements reached on humanitarian issues, Azerbaijan has been targeting the civilian communities of Artsakh since the morning of October 31”, Artsakh Ombudsman reports.
At 7:08 a.m., explosions were heard in the city and the air raid siren was activated immediately. The residential areas and the central market of the capital Stepanakert were struck, where no military object is located. The city was severely damaged by missile strikes. As a result of the shelling, a part of the infrastructure of public importance was destroyed, causing huge material damage to the civilian population.
As a result of the second explosion, a house with all its property was destructed. The adjacent apartments were partially damaged. According to preliminary data, there are no casualties.
DAVIT BEK VILLAGE, ARMENIA — On 30 October, Azerbaijani armed forces used artillery against Davit Bek village of Syunik Province of the Republic of Armenia. As a result of the attack, there is a huge material damage to the settlement. According to preliminary data, there are no casualties.
NAGORNO KARABAKH — Azerbaijan is using Phosphorus munitions over Nagorno-Karabakh setting fires to the forests next to civilian communities. Based on Armenia’s Human Rights Defender’s urgent investigation results as well as the find-finding activities of Artsakh Human Rights Ombudsman, it was confirmed that Azerbaijan is using Phosphorus munitions over Nagorno Karabakh setting fires to the forests next to civilian communities, where during days and nights many civilians are hiding from Azerbaijani military attacks.
“These munitions have clear effects of mass destruction for environment; now are also used against civilians by Azerbaijani military forces and in this context are forbidden under international law. These phosphorus munitions are weapons which use one of the common allotropes of the chemical element phosphorus. White phosphorus is used in smoke, illumination and incendiary munitions, and is commonly the burning element of tracer ammunition”, Armenia’s Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan writes on his Facebook page on 30 October.
Below please find a video material by Bars Media Documentary Film Studio on the usage of phosphorus munitions by Azerbaijani military forces.
According to preliminary data provided by Artsakh (Nagorno Karbakh) Ombudsman, as of 2 November, 1815 hectares of forest area have already been burned (Shahumyan – 108ha, Shushi – 270ha, Kashatagh – 910ha, Martakert – 185ha, Askeran – 122ha, Martuni – 190ha, Hadrut – 30ha) but fires continue in various areas, and there is a tendency for rapid growth.
For details please, check also the following recourses:
“Azerbaijan continues deliberately and indiscriminately targeting peaceful settlements of Artsakh,” Ombudsman Artak Beglaryan tweeted on 30 October, 2020.
AKNAGHBYUR VILLAGE, NAGORNO KARABAKH — as a result of the Azerbaijani shelling of the village of Aknaghbyur, Askeran region, 60-year-old civilian Sergey Balayan was killed and 6 civilians were wounded.
#Breaking! As a result of #Azerbaijan shelling, in Aknaghbyur village of #Artsakh/#Karabakh, 60YO Sergey Balayan was killed & 6 other civilians have been wounded. Azerbaijan continues deliberately/indiscriminately targeting civilian areas & population.#WarCrime#DontBeBlind
SHUSHI, NAGORNO KARABAKH — On October 29, Azerbaijani armed forces targeted peaceful communities of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). As the State Emergency Situations Service of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) informs, the front building of Shushi’s Ghazanchetsots Cathedral was damaged after the missile strike on Shushi town. The rocket fell in the middle of the central road of the city.
Photosource: Armenian Unified InfocenterPhoto: David Ghahramnyan
There are casualties among civilians.
Further additional information about the details of the incident will be provided.
STEPANAKERT, NAGORNO KARABAKH — According to the State Service for Emergency Situations of the NKR (Nagorno-Karabakh), on 29 October, Azerbaijani Military Forces targeted a number of peaceful communities in Stepanakert. As a result of the explosion of a missile of Smerch multiple rocket launcher on the capital Stepanakert, on 29 of October, 2020, one residential house was completely destroyed. The owner of the house and the neighbor were injured. The gas pipe and electric wires of the house as well as one car were damaged. The case was reported by Artak Beglaryan, Human Rights Ombudsman of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Concrete location of the destroyed building to be identified.
For details please, check also the following recourses:
Official Facebook Page of the State Service for Emergency Situations of the NKR — https://www.facebook.com/.
Wednesday, October 28, 2020.
The Azerbaijani armed forces struck Karabakh’s main civilian hospital (Republican Medical Center of Stepanakert) and a maternal and child health center adjacent to it with heavy missile.
Photo Source: https://www.azatutyun.am/
STEPANAKERT, NAGORNO KARABAKH — A view of a newly built natal center damaged by shelling by Azerbaijan’s artillery in Stepanakert, October 28, 2020.
As stated by Artshakh Ombudsman Artak Beglaryan, no casualties are reported. According to the hospital director, Mher Musayelian, there were limited numbers of medical workers and patients at both medical establishments during the attack. None of them was seriously injured as a result.
The photo and video materials show the serious damage to the building as a result of the shelling. According to Daniel Ioannisyan, programs coordinator at Union of Informed Citizens NGO, Medical center in Stepanakert was hit by Israeli “Lora” missile.
“Lora” is very accurate missile and there are no military facilities around that hospital. So, the medical center was targeted on purpose” – said Mr. Ioannisyan.
SHUSHI, NAGORNO KARABAKH — The Azerbaijani armed forces struck more than 15 times on different parts of the capital Stepanakert and Shushi town, deliberately targeting residential and public objects. As a result of the attack, one residential building was completely destroyed and the school after Khachatur Abovyan was partially damaged.
According to Artak Beglaryan, Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), as a result of the strike in Shushi, one civilian was killed and two were wounded. As Artsakh State Service of Emergency Situations informs, three employees of the State Emergency Service of the Artsakh Republic – Gegham Grigoryan, Karot Baghryan, and Harut Apresyan received bodily injuries while implementing a humanitarian mission in Shushi.
According to preliminary information, the injuries were caused by the explosion of a missile of Smerch multiple rocket launcher. “The targeting of the personnel of the State Emergency Service with humanitarian mission is a War Crime,” – Ombudsman said. Further additional information about the details of the incident will be provided.
BERDZOR, NAGORNO KARABAKH — As the State Emergency Situations Service of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) informs, on 27 October, Azerbaijan held under fire peaceful settlements.
In the afternoon, Azerbaijani armed forces shelled the city of Berdzor of the Kashatagh region with artillery, causing major destructions.
Further additional information about the details of the incident will be provided.
NNGI VILLAGE, NAGORNO KARABAKH — In the afternoon Azerbaijan – with cluster missiles of “Smerch” multiple rocket launcher – struck on the residential areas of Nngi village of Martuni region where many civilians, temporarily displaced from a number of other communities, took refuge.
As a result of the strike, three women were wounded, one house was completely destroyed, other houses and infrastructure of the community were also damaged to varying degrees. As stated by the source, there are no military objects near the community where a prohibited wide-range cluster missile was used in a densely populated area. Further additional information about the details of the incident will be provided.
SARUSHEN AND KHACHMACH VILLAGES, NAGORNO KARABAKH — According to the information provided by the Armenian Unified Infocenter, as a result of the shelling of Sarushen (Martuni) and Khachmach (Askeran) villages by the Azerbaijani armed forces, there are material damages and destructions.No casualties are reported.
For details please, check also the following recourses:
Armenian Unified Infocenter — https://www.facebook.com/ (photos). (There is no date mentioned in the above-mentioned source, whereas the publication is made on 27.10.2020. Most probably the shelling refers to 26 Oct.);
Official Facebook Page of the State Service for Emergency Situations of the NKR — https://www.facebook.com/.
Monday, October 26, 2020.
AVETARANOTS VILLAGE, NAGORNO KARABAKH — On October 26, a number of settlements of the Artsakh Republic were targeted by the Azerbaijani armed forces. From the strikes of Smerch reactive volley fire system in the village, civilian Gevorg Hambardzumyan was killed; and two civilians, Henrikh Adamyan and Andrey Hambardzumyan, were wounded, Artsakh Ombudsman Artak Beglaryan reported.
MADATASHEN VILLAGE, NAGORNO KARABAKH — According to the State Service for Emergency Situations of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), on 25 October, Madatashen village of Askeran region was shelled by the Azerbaijani armed forces.
Three houses and one public building were damaged. No casualties are reported.
MARTUNI AND ASKERAN REGIONS, NAGORNO KARABAKH — According to Artsakh State Emergency Situations Service, during the night of October 24, Azerbaijani armed forces used artillery in the directions of the Karmir Shuka, Taghavard, Gishi, Spitakashen communities in Martuni region, and the village Avetaranots in Askeran region. The nearby areas of forests and fields which have agricultural significance were also targeted. There are no military objects in these settlements. No civilian casualties are reported.
For details please, check also the following recourses:
Armenian Unified Infocenter — www.facebook.am (in Russian and English).
Friday, October 23, 2020.
STEPANAKERT, NAGORNO KARABAKH — During the night of 23 October, Azerbaijani military forces targeted the capital Stepanakert.As a result of the Smerch rocket fire, a car was burned and nearby buildings and shops of economic significance were destroyed.
Official Facebook Page of the State Service for Emergency Situations of the NKR (Photos) — https://www.facebook.com/.
Tuesday, October 20, 2020.
MARTAKERT, NAGORNO KARABAKH — On 20, October, Azerbaijani military forces used military aviation in the direction of Martakert city and nearby villages bombing civilian infrastructure. Azerbaijan continued targeting the same territories on 21 October, the State Service for Emergency Situations of the NKR informs. According to armenpress.am, the Martakert and surrounding villages continued to be in the target of the Azerbaijani armed forces also on October 22.
STEPANAKERT, NAGORNO KARABAKH — According to the statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, on the evening of October 16, Azerbaijan shelled the civilian settlements of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), including the capital Stepanakert.
Photo Source: Armenian Unified Infocenter.
According to Arsakh Ombudsman Artak Beglaryan’s statement, on the night of October 16-17, Azerbaijan continued to target the peaceful settlements of the Nagorno-Karabakh with heavy missiles and UAVs. Three civilians, 82-year-old Ruzanna Sargsyan, 36-year-old Vardan Khanamyan and 33-year-old Arman Aramyan – suffered in Stepanakert as a result of the missile and air strikes. There is a great material damage to the civilian infrastructure and residential districts of the city. Civilian Svetlana Baghdasaryan’s house in Stepanakert was damaged as a result of Azerbaijani shelling.
Official Facebook Page of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) Ombudsman — https://www.facebook.com/ (in Russian and English).
Friday, October 16, 2020.
Photo Source: Armenian Unified Infocenter.
SHOSH, NAGORNO KARABAKH — According to Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Ombudsman, 3 civilians – Melkumyan Yuri, Melkumyan Soghomon and Verdyan Grigori – have been wounded in Shosh village of Askeran region. A number of houses have been destroyed. As a result of the attack on the village of Shosh on 16 October, civilian Yuri Melkumyan has lost his house.
Official Facebook Page of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) Ombudsman — https://www.facebook.com/ (in Russian and English).
Thursday, October 15, 2020.
KARMIR SHUKA VILLAGE, NAGORNO KARABAKH — On 15 October, at 19:00 Azerbaijani military forces struck Karmir Shuka village of Martuni region of Artsakh with “Smerch” cluster missile. As a result, civilian Armen Arkady Karamyan was killed, Artsakh Ombudsman reported.
STEPANAKERT, NAGORNO KARABAKH — According to the State Service for Emergency Situations of the NKR, Azerbaijan struck Stepanakert with heavy rockets deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure on 15 October. The school N 10 in Stepanakert was targeted by Azerbaijani military forces with missiles and bombs.
KNARAVAN VILLAGE, NAGORNO KARABAKH — According to Artsakh Ombudsman, on October 15, as a result of Azerbaijani aircraft bombardment, civilian Marina Tevosyan born in 1961 has been injured in Knaravan village of Shahumyan (Karvajar) region.
SHATAVAN COMMUNITY, ARMENIA — A 14-year-old boy, Narek Arzoyan, got injured in Vardenis region while his family and he were heading to their farm for the fall harvest when their car was hit by the Azerbaijani UAV.
Strongly condemning: this morning, #Azerbaijani armed forces launched drone strikes near #Vardenis#Sotk community of Gegharkunik province, #Armenia. A 14-year-old #child was wounded, now in hospital. There were other civilians in agricultural civilian field for potato harvest.
14-year-old Narek suffered serious injuries from shrapnel and was transported to a hospital in Yerevan. Armenia’s Health Ministry spokesperson Alina Nikoghosyan said the boy sustained shrapnel wounds to his chest, abdominal trauma and has developed pneumothorax.
“Doctors say the boy is in serious condition,” she said.
On 14 October, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces targeted with UAVs the military equipment on duty in the territory of the Republic of Armenia, near the Shatvan community of Vardenis region in Gegharkunik. Two servicemen were killed and 10 others were injured as a result of the attack. Armenia’s Defense Ministry reported the attack on Armenia’s territory saying that Azerbaijani forces had targeted military installation and equipment in the Vardenis region, based on the groundless assumption that the equipment was “ready to strike at peaceful settlements in Azerbaijan.”
MARTUNI, NAGORNO KARABAKH — According to NKR InfoCenter, on October 14, Azerbaijani military forces targeted civilian population in some settlements of Martuni region. As a result of the Grad shelling, a kindergarten in Martuni village was severely damaged which is shown in the video released by an independent American reporter Patrick Lancaster.
Another video posted by Sputnik Armenia on 15 October shows a Martuni school nearby the area of the kindergarten in the aftermath of Azerbaijani bombing. However, according to the source, the representatives of the local governments noted that it was difficult to identify exactly when the civilian objects had been damaged, since the shelling did not stop for a long period of time.
MARTAKERT, NAGORNO KARABAKH — Օn 13 October, Azerbaijani armed forces targeted civilian objects of Artsakh. An apartment burned down in Martakert town as a result of artillery shelling as Spokesman for the President of the Artsakh Republic Vahram Poghosyan reported. No casualties are reported.
MARTAKERT, NAGORNO KARABAKH — On 11 October, the Azerbaijani armed forces shelled the city of Martakert from Grad MSRL after the ceasefire announced on 10 October came into force. As a result of the attack, one house burned down, as well as residential areas, civilian houses were damaged. No casualties are reported.
STEPANAKERT, NAGORNO KARABAKH — Around midnight on 11 October, active shelling started in one of the suburbs of capital Stepanakert. As a result of the Azerbaijani rocket attack, one private house was completely destroyed, one adjacent building of economic significance burned down, several buildings, houses, shops and pharmacies were damaged. According to Artsakh Ombudsman, remains of a “Smerch” cluster missile banned by international humanitarian law were found near one of the damaged houses in Stepanakert. No casualties are reported.
MARTUNI, NAGORNO KARABAKH — The Artsakh Information Headquarters reported that after the announcement of the ceasefire on 10 October, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces fired rockets at the city of Martuni at night of October 11, as a result of which one citizen, 75-year-old Pargev Saghyan, was killed under the rubble of his house and a number of houses were damaged.
HADRUT, NAGORNO KARABAKH — According to Arsakh Ombudsman Artak Beglaryan, in the afternoon of October 10, members of an Azerbaijani subversive group that invaded the city of Hadrut killed 2 civilians at their home – the mother, Anahit Movsisyan, and her son with disability, Misha Movsisyan.
#BREAKING! An #Azerbaijan|i subvversive group today killed 2 civilians at their home in #Hadrut town – the mother & her son with #disability. I demand from the intl community to give proper reaction to the crimes agnst the #Artsakh ppl & to pursue punishing those criminals.
Beglaryan mentioned that according to preliminary data there are other victims among the civilians in Hadrut, among which – Nver Grigoryan, and Artyom Mirzoyan.
Official representative of Armenia’s Ministry of Defense Artsrun Hovhannisyan reported that on 10 October, the Azerbaijani armed forces hit Kapan town of Armenia. Following this post, based on the statement of Shushan Stepanyan, Press Secretary of Ministry of Defense, Hovhannisyan made a correction regarding the previous report,
“Kapan town was not attacked, the strike came to other part. The adversary used combat drones in Yeritsvank community in Armenia and in Artsvanik village of Kapan region in Armenia’s Syunik province. One casualty is reported” he wrote.
No information is available about the details of the incident.
For details please, check also the following recourses:
Photo Source: RA Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan’s Twitter account. Photo Source: RA Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan’s Twitter account.
SHUSHI, NAGORNO KARABAKH — On October 8, the Azerbaijani military forces targeted and bombarded one of the historical symbols of Armenian architecture, the St. All Savior Ghazancetsots Cathedral of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh), located in Shushi city center. As Arman Tatoyan, Human Right Defender of Armenia mentioned, only children, women and elderly people were in the Cathedral‘s basement at the moment of strikes. Azerbaijani military forces launched the second missile attack shortly after the first one. Since there was only a very short break between those two air strikes, a number of children, women, and elderly were still in the basement of the Cathedral. The missile and UAV attacks caused significant destruction to the Cathedral. Paul Ronzheimer, the reporter of BILD-Zeitung has published a video on his Twitter account with the following capture:
BREAKING: We just got back from the church in #Shushi 20 kilometer from #Stepanakert. The church got hit some hours ago, terrible destruction inside. Thank god, the kids plus parents who were in the basement hiding didnt got injured. #KarabakhWar@BILDpic.twitter.com/SalupTprqP
According to the message spread by Artsakh ombudsman Artak Beglaryan, 3 reporters were injured during the shelling of the Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi. The three Russian reporters who were wounded after the shelling have been transported to Yerevan. Russian blogger and reporter Yuri Kotenok was in critical condition. He was transferred to Erebuni hospital in Yerevan. His two colleagues were evacuated to Moscow after receiving necessary medical treatment.
There are no military objects and nothing close to military around the Cathedral.Residential houses were also damaged.
— Armenian Unified Infocenter (@ArmenianUnified) October 5, 2020
According to the representative of the Ministry of Defense Artsrun Hovhannisyan, Smerch, Polonez, Turkish Kasirga and similar long-range missiles were used, as a result of which residential buildings, shops, cars were severely damaged or destroyed. No casualties are reported.
STEPANAKERT, NAGORNO KARABAKH — During the shelling in Stepanakert on 4 October, Russian journalist Denis Kulaga, a reporter of Russian Izvestia Information Center, came under Azerbaijani fire receiving light concussion, RIA Novosti reported about it with reference to the victim.
Photo: Denis Kulaga Source: https://iz.ru/
“A group of journalists came to film an electricity station that was damaged during the morning shelling. Meanwhile, a new shelling began, bombs fell next to us. Everything is fine, but now I have a headache,” the journalist said.
There is a reportage about the incident published on Izvestia website in which the reporter provides details about the incident.
“I am safe, managed to escape. I am forced to lie here as the windows are broken. The cafe was damaged, shops, houses where people lived – everything is destroyed. What is burning there is the city electricity station that has been under the Azerbaijani target since yesterday”, the reporter tells.
STEPANAKERT, NAGORNO KARABAKH — On 4 October, Azerbaijani military forces targeted residential areas and city infrastructure in the capital Stepanakert using cluster-warhead missiles. As a result of the shelling, residential buildings and cars were severely damaged or destructed as shown in the footage.
According to Armenian Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan, on September 27-28, October 2-4 Azerbaijan deployed LAR-160 and Smerch cluster-warhead missiles against the town of Hadrut, the capital city Stepanakert and against the village of Shosh near Stepanakert.
“Repeated use of cluster munitions against densely populated settlements is a grave breach of international humanitarian law, and a gross violation of Azerbaijan’s international human rights obligations, including its positive obligations with respect to the right to life and health, the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and the right to property, despite Azerbaijan is not a party to the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions. It is forbidden to use cluster munitions in any case if the effects of such use cannot be limited as required by international humanitarian law, namely – when the distinction between military targets cannot be ensured,” Tatoyan stressed.
STEPANAKERT, NAGORNO KARABAKH — According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh, on 3 October, Azerbaijani armed forces targeted electricity network building in the capital Stepanakert. As a result of the strike, the city was left without electricity.
STEPANAKERT, NAGORNO KARABAKH — On 2 October, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces deliberately struck civilian facilities and infrastructure in the capital Stepanakert with 3 heavy rockets. Artsakh Ombudsman informed that on 2 October, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces deliberately struck civilian facilities and infrastructure in the capital Stepanakert with 3 heavy rockets. In particular, they targeted the building of the State Emergency Service of Artsakh, which carries out emergency rescue and humanitarian activities, as a result of which the building was severely damaged and 7 employees were wounded. Among them was Hovik Yuri Aghajanyan who passed away on 7 October at Erebuni Medical Center in Yerevan from the serious injuries as a result of the rocket attack on Stepanakert at around 1:45 p.m. Moreover, according to preliminary data, as a result of deliberate and targeted shelling, there are 4 wounded civilians and large material damage to civilian infrastructure in the city.
#Breaking!#Azerbaijan just struck 3 times Stepanakert with heavy rockets. Seems residential buildings destroyed. Many casualties.
HADRUT, NAGORNO KARABAKH — On 2 October, Azerbaijani armed forces targeted the city of Hadrut. The representative of the RA Ministry of Defense Artsrun Hovhannisyan informed that on 2 October, Azerbaijani armed forces targeted the city of Hadrut. According to Artsakh Ombudsman, as a result of the strike from Smerch MRLS with cluster rockets at the civilian objects of Hadrut, 3 civilians were wounded.
MARTUNI, NAGORNO KARABAKH — On October 1, Azerbaijani military forces hit Martuni. Accoring to Hovhannes Movsisyan, the head of the Government Information-Analytical Center, 4 civilians were killed as a result of Azerbaijani Grad shelling attack in Martuni: Grisha Narinyan (1992), Armen Hovsepyan (1985), Valerik Dadayan (1956), the fourth victim is not identified.
Allan Kaval, the Le Monde journalist injured in Azerbaijani shelling in the city of Martuni. Photo Source: www.armradio.am
Eleven (11) civilians, including four journalists, were injured. Among them were 2 reporters from France’s Le Monde, Allan Kaval and Yaghobzadeh Raphael Charles (citizens of France), as well as 24news.am journalist Sevak Vardumyan and Aram Grigoryan, Armenia TV company’s “Zham” newscast operator.
Dmitri Yelovski, deputy director of “Dozhd” TV company, was also under shelling. He was transferred to a bomb shelter.
At the moment of bombing, CivilNet’s group of 5 cameramen were also in Martuni and appeared under “Grad” shelling. Journalist Tatul Hakobyan reported that they had not been injured.
As the journalist informs, Azerbaijani side hits civilian objects.
SHATAVAN VILLAGE AND METS MASRIK COMMUNITY, ARMENIA — On 1 October, the Azerbaijani military forces employed artillery in the direction of Shatvan village of Gegharkunik region of Armenia, as well as fired a missile from a combat UAV at Mets Masrik residence. As a result, one civilian, Gevorg Vardanyan born in 1967 was killed, two civilians received injuries of varying degrees.
An Azerbaijani artillery strike on village of Shatvan in #Armenia’s Gegharkunik province followed by an Air strike on nearby town of Mets Masrik. One civilian was killed,two were wounded. Air defence units intercepted 3 other missiles, and shot down UAV responsible for the strike
MARTAKERT, NAGORNO KARABAKH — According to the State Service for Emergency Situations of the NKR and Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Artsakh, on 30 September, as a result of Azerbaijani air strike on the civilian facilities of the city of Martakert, 3 civilians – 2 women, Lyuba Mamunts, born in 1957 and Larisa Mamunts, born in 1959, and a man, Hrant Khachatryan, born in 1955, had been killed and 1 wounded. Civilian objects were also damaged as a result of the strikes.
Official Facebook Page of the State Service for Emergency Situations of the NKR — https://www.facebook.com/ (Photos).
Monday, September 28, 2020.
HADRUT, NAGORNO KARABAKH — On 28 September, Hadrut region was attacked by the Azerbaijani armed forces with artillery and UAVs as a result of which an old woman, Lesmonia Stepanyan, was killed in her house located in the regional center, 3 civilians were wounded, and different settlements of the region were severely damaged.
MARTUNI, NAGORNO KARABAKH — As a result of the Azerbaijani shelling on Martuni on 27 September 2020 from Grad MRLS, there are casualties among the civilian population. According to Artsakh Ombudsman, two civilians — Ellada Balayan – born in 1961 and Victoria Gevorgyan – born in 2011, were shot dead in the yard of their house in Martuni town. There is a large-scale material damage to the peaceful settlement.
STEPANAKERT, NAGORNO KARABAKH – According to Artsakh Ombudsman Artak Beglaryan, on 27 September, all large and a number of small settlements of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), including capital Stepanakert, were shelled by Azerbaijani military forces with the use of artillery and striking UAVs. In Stepanakert, more than 10 people were injured, including children and women. As a result of the shelling, a number of houses, residential buildings and cars parked on the street were damaged in Stepanakert. Among numerous damage to infrastructure, some schools were also damaged.
Violence to life and person, murder, mutilation, cruel treatment, torture and passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgment.
WARNING: Content might be disturbing to reader.
Monday, November 1, 2020.
WARNING: Content of these two images might be disturbing to reader.
(WARNING: Content might be disturbing)
On 31 October, a video was posted in the social media containing scenes of collective physical violence and torture towards a group of men in Armenian military uniforms lying on the grass with their hands tied and eyes covered with piece of cloth.The captives are being kicked in the head or wounded parts of the body. Supposedly, there has also been sexual violence towards one of the captives which can be assumed by his position of lying on the ground with pants torn. In the video material, the captives are begging the perpetrators to stop torturing them for what they will say everything out loud what they have been told.
Interestingly, on 1 November, another video(WARNING: Content might be disturbing) with similar content and seemingly with the demonstration of the same captives was posted in the social media with a different user’s account. Both aforementioned video materials might relate to Artsakh Ombudsman Artak Beglaryan’s Twitter statement on October 30 regarding a video material circulating on Azerbaijani social media channels showing 19 dead bodies of Armenian soldiers: some of them handcuffed & others naked. (See below) However, there is no evidence or professional expertise which can confirm this surmise.
The beck-up copies of videos will be published after verification.
Saturday, October 31, 2020.
Image Source: Armenian Unified Infocenter
NAGORNO KARABAKH — On October 31, a video interview was published by the Armenian Unified Infocenter, where a woman from Hadrut, reveals details of her torture upon returning from Azerbaijani captivity. According to the woman, in order to hide from the Azerbaijani attack, she spent the night of October 15 in the basement of her house which served as a bomb shelter. Below, please, find the excerpt from the testimony of victim Zhenya Pavlov Babayan translate by the Armenian Unified Infocenter.
I left the shelter in the morning to feed the chickens, I live alone, my son went to war. I heard Men’s voices. They spoke Azerbaijani. 10 soldiers broke into my house. Seeing them, I was scared, I fell down and injured my broken leg. They said “shut up, we will take you to Baku”. I refused, I said that I am an old woman, this is my house, I have no one in Baku, let me stay in my house (Hadrut). But they dragged me by the hand, took me and put me in their vehicle. I was taken to three police stations. I was offered neither food nor drink. I was thirsty, I asked for tea, they brought it in a tiny glass, and then a woman threw sugar in front of me, I said I am a woman, I am not a dog, and I did not use it. At the first 2 stations they ordered me to say that Pashinyan is not good, that he caused the war. They were filming me with cameras, they were asking questions, I was answering what they said. After that I was taken to the third police station, where there were two Armenians. The young boy was tied up, kicked in turn, beaten constantly, and the old Armenian’s hand was broken, he was just sitting there as if there was nothing wrong with him. On the third day, the young Armenian was thrown in a bag, dragged away and thrown into a vehicle. The other man was also placed in the car.
Question: You were alone in the hospital, there were no other Armenians.
Answer: No, I was taken alone, I don’t know where the other two ended up.
NAGORNO KARABAKH — At least 4 handcuffed soldiers were war prisoners before being killed. On October 30, Artak Beglaryan, Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) made a statement on his Twitter account regarding a video material circulating on Azerbaijani social media channels. The material is showing 19 dead bodies of Armenian soldiers: some of them handcuffed & others naked.
“It’s apparent that at least 4 handcuffed soldiers were war prisoners before being killed”, stated Ombudsman in his post.
Artak Beglaryan made a statement on his Twitter account on October 31, 2020:
Do you know when I’m “glad” for my blindness on these days? When I’m explained by my team the video-contents of #Azerbaijan cruel atrocities against #Armenia|n war prisoners & dead bodies. I can’t imagine such predatory behavior by humans against humans. Az hate level is awful.
On October 30, Benjamin Strick, independent Australian journalist specializing in open source intelligence wrote on his Twitter account that geolocation of footage which shows bodies, some handcuffed, others unclothed, in Zangilan, particularly mentioning
Geolocation of footage which shows bodies, some handcuffed, others unclothed, in Zəngilan, #Karabakh.
On October 22 – 24, two videos began circulating on Azerbaijani social media channels showing cruel treatment against alleged Armenian captives.
Photo: a screenshot from the video footage, published by the Azerbaijani social media recourses on October 24, 2020.
(WARNING: Content might be disturbing)
The videos show alleged captives in Armenian military uniforms, who are ordered to repeatedly and persistently state that Karabakh is Azerbaijan.
As of 1 November, 2020 there is no public information on authentication of the footage and verification of its genuineness by any source.
The videos will be published after verification.
Thursday, October 16, 2020.
Image Source: RA Human Rights Defender
NAGORNO KARABAKH — Azerbaijani troops beheaded Armenian soldier. On 16 October, at around 13 PM a member of the Azerbaijani armed forces called the brother of an Armenian soldier and said that his brother is with them; they beheaded him and posted his photo on the Internet. Afterwards, several hours later, the brother found the photo of on his killed brother’s social media page. There were two phone calls with Azerbaijani soldiers who used hate speech with intention to humiliate the Armenian killed soldier’s brother. As the latter informed the Human Rights Defender, the calls were made from the Armenian soldier’s phone number. The case was reported by Arman Tatoyan, RA Ombudsman on 19 of October, 2020.
Received call on @OmbudsArmenia hot line- #Azerbaijani mil. #beheaded#Armenian soldier. Investigation showed – this soldier’s bro. received call from Az. Army on Oct. 16;they beheaded his bro. & will post photo on Internet. Later soldier’s photo appeared on his social media page pic.twitter.com/i9ggitL5pg
HADRUT, NAGORNO KARABAKH — Two Armenians were captured and executed by a group of Azerbaijani soldiers. On October 15, two videos began circulating on Azerbaijani Telegram channels. The videos show capture and execution of two Armenians by Azerbaijani soldiers.Ombudsman Artak Beglaryan stated on his Twitter account that one of them was an elderly civilian.
WARNING: Content might be disturbing
#BREAKING!#Azerbaijan social media published a video showing how Az servicemen are humiliating & killing #Artsakh/#Karabakh war prisoners, one of them an elderly civilian. We already have many proofs on such #WarCrimes, but Az MoD rejects. Here is the proof on Az source. pic.twitter.com/so9iuBRoyZ
The videos, which were initially posted on Azerbaijani Telegram channels, have since been removed. The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defence stated that the videos were staged. However, the detailed analysis conducted by the Bellingcat investigative journalism website that specializes in fact-checking and open-source intelligence, indicates that these two men were indeed Armenian combatants who were captured between October 9 and October 15 by Azerbaijani soldiers, possibly special forces, and likely executed a short time later. According to the representative of Armenia’s Ministry of Defense Artsrun Hovhannisyan, it has been later identified that the killing was carried out by the special detachment of the Azerbaijani naval forces. (See the interview with Artsrun Hovhannisyan 25:43– in Armenian).
On 7-8 October, a video was posted in the social media in which a group of Azerbaijani-speaking men in Azerbaijani military uniforms, forced a man in an Armenian military uniform lying half-burned on the surface of a heavy military equipment, to declare that Karabakh is Azerbaijan.
The video(WARNING: Content might be disturbing) is entitled in Russian ‘Азербайджанцы заставляют обгоревшего Армянского танкиста сказать «Карабах это Азербайджан»! +21’ which in English means Azerbaijanis force a burnt Armenian tanker to say ‘Karabakh is Azerbaijan’. However, there are no factual materials or expertise which clarify the details of the incident depicted in the video.
Another video(WARNING: Content might be disturbing) was published in the social media on 15 October, in which, one can see a scene similar to the above-mentioned video. Unlike the previous one, the face of the soldier in the Armenian uniform is visible in the video material. The latter states that Karabakh is Azerbaijan and swears at Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia. At first sight, the heavy military equipment visible in both videos are presumably identical because the same numbers of the equipment are visible in both videos. However, these assumptions are not based on professional expertise and demand extra investigation and clarification.
The beck-up copies of videos will be published after verification.
See location on Google Maps
See location on Google Maps
KHNUSHINAK VILLAGE, NAGORNO KARABAKH — As a result of targeting of peaceful settlements by Azerbaijani military forces, on November 1, one civilian, 53-year-old Armo Avanesyan, was killed in Khnushinak village of Martuni region, Artsakh Ombudsman Artak Beglaryan reported.
ARAJADZOR VILLAGE, NAGORNO KARABAKH — According to Artsakh Ombudsman Artak Beglaryan’s statement, on 1 November, 67-year-old Seryozha Tsatryan was wounded as a result of a shell explosion in Arajadzor village of Martakert region.
See location on Google Maps
See location on Google Maps
See location on Google Maps
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See location on Google Maps
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See location on Google Maps
See location on Google Maps
HADRUT, NAGORNO KARABAKH — On 28 September, Hadrut region was attacked by the Azerbaijani armed forces with artillery and UAVs as a result of which an old woman, Lesmonia Stepanyan, was killed in her house located in the regional center, 3 civilians were wounded, and different settlements of the region were severely damaged.
(WARNING: Content might be disturbing)
See location on Google Maps
On 7-8 October, a video was posted in the social media in which a group of Azerbaijani-speaking men in Azerbaijani military uniforms, forced a man in an Armenian military uniform lying half-burned on the surface of a heavy military equipment, to declare that Karabakh is Azerbaijan.
