Armenian ombudsman warns of further escalations linked to border delimination and demarcation processes

The human rights ombudsman on Tuesday addressed the impossibility of border delimitation and demarcation, warning of potential cross-border incidents and the Azerbaijani military’s aggression.

At a news conference covering the situation along Armenia's eastern border with Azerbaijan, Arman Tatoyan also stressed the importance of instituting criminal cases as a mechanism of solid evidence (offering protection to Armenians in different international arenas). He also highlighted the value of every piece of evidence presented by the human rights defender.

Tatoyan further addressed the challenges to the border population’s defense in the context of the proposed delimitation and demarcation. “I don’t think any border delimitation and demarcation is possible under these conditions. It may even result in higher tensions in terms of the protection of the local population’s rights, which still remain violated,” he said, adding that the processes should run parallel with the withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops.

Describing the right to delimitation and demarcation as an extremely important human rights guarantee, the ombudsman noted that most civilians are now deprived of exercising the fundamental principle (despite the availability of necessary legal documents). Tatoyan also noted that the Azerbaijani authorities continue sponsoring Armenoophobia and hostility, policy manifestations which he said are now increasingly amounting to fascism.