Azerbaijan strengthens illegal positions in Armenia: hydroelectric power plants and civilians are under threat - ex-human rights defender
YEREVAN, Nov. 10. /ARKA/. Azerbaijan is fortifying the positions it has illegally occupied in Armenia. by building roads and endangering the Tatev and Jermuk hydroelectric power plants as well as the lives of civilians, Arman Tatoyan, Director of the Tatoyan Foundation Center for Law and Justice and a former human rights defender, told at a press conference on Thursday.
Tatoyan, who had done fact-finding work on the consequences of the Azerbaijani military invasion of Armenia's sovereign territory on September 13-14, 2022, showed a photo of the road the Azerbaijanis have built in the occupied territories near the Armenian spa town Jermuk.
"We studied in detail how they built this concrete road. They bring rocks from mines and other places, crush them, place them on the road, and then they cement it to make the road ready for winter. They are preparing this 10-12 meter wide road for the winter," he said.
"They are not preparing to leave our villages, roads and occupied territories, their actions prove it. They are actively fortifying, building roads and bunkers," he said.
Tatoyan said that there are Azerbaijani positions in Goris and Kapan communities of Syunik, which were seized as a result of the September 13-14 events.
He stressed that the illegal military presence hampers the normal life of civilians, schools do not work, there is no agricultural activity etc.
As a result of Azerbaijani military attack and invasions of September 13-14 this year a total of 2,700 hectares of the Kapan community were occupied by Azerbaijan, villages appeared in the risk zone and it is impossible to carry out agricultural work there.
According to Tatoyan, it will not be enough to withdraw troops from sovereign Armenian territories: Azerbaijani troops must leave both Armenian and disputed territories.
He stressed that the alternative road, which has been built in Syunik, is also under Azeri control and everything must be done to remove Azerbaijani forces from there. The Kapan airport is also overlooked by them, the Geghanush tailing dump, the Tatev and Jermuk hydroelectric power plants are under threat.
The enemy creates problems for the Armenian population not only by its presence, but also by its actions: Azerbaijanis steal cars and animals, and cause problems to access to water in a number of villages.
When asked what Armenia must do to resolve the situation, Tatoyan said the authorities must first ratify the Statute of the International Criminal Court, which will, among other things, become a preventive measure for future possible aggravations. -0-