News - Armenia ex-ombudsman: Humiliating that authorities ‘confess’ to Azerbaijan that there was incident in Nerkin Hand

It is absolutely impermissible and humiliating that Armenia’s authorities are justifying themselves and "confessing" to Azerbaijan that as if there was an incident Monday in Syunik Province, in the Nerkin Hand village region, they are looking into it and conducting an investigation. Arman Tatoyan, the former Human Rights Defender (ombudsman) of Armenia, noted this on Facebook. He added as follows: "This is definitely an Azerbaijani agenda. That is, what happens? Azerbaijani armed servicemen have invaded the territory of our country, and now we still have to examine what sin we have committed against Azerbaijanis in our territory. Where is the reality that the presence of Azerbaijani armed servicemen [in Armenia] is illegal, criminal from the beginning? Back during the 44-day war of 2020, they invaded the territories near Tsav village [of Armenia’s Syunik Province] on October 20, and in 2021 and after that, they expanded the geographical scope of the invasions. They have surrounded Nerkin Hand on 3 sides, they are shooting in the direction of villages, they have deprived the people of drinking water, the opportunity to earn a living, to visit the graves of their relatives and the church; they have made people's lives impossible. Armenia’s servicemen protect the life and health of our people every minute. This should be the agenda and belief of the Armenian side, not the dictates of Azerbaijan." Earlier, Armenian News-NEWS.am reported that starting at 5:30am on Tuesday, the units of the Azerbaijani armed forces opened fire—from small arms—in the direction of the Armenian positions located in the Nerkin Hand village sector in Syunik Province. As a result, the Armenian side has four casualties and one wounded. Shooting stopped as of 9:30am.