With its provocative actions Azerbaijan wants to justify criminal encroachments on the civilian population and at the same time prepare the ground for further actions and provocations, Artsakh Human Rights Defender Gegham Stepanyan said in a statement.
“Recently Azerbaijani military information sources have been spreading false rumors about violation of ceasefire by the Armenian side in different segments of the Armenian-Azerbaijani line of contact. Thus, Azerbaijan wants to justify the criminal attacks on the civilian population and at the same time prepare the ground for further actions and provocations.
On 6 March, the Azerbaijani side shelled the Khramurt community of Askeran with fire-weapons of various calibers. Today, on 7 March, at about 5 p.m. a grenade launcher was used in the same region, the shells exploded near the village cemetery. There were no civilian casualties.
In parallel with the described operations, the Azerbaijani propaganda machine has been engaged in slandering and discrediting the Russian peacekeeping forces, especially the commanding officers who ensure the security of the civilian population in Artsakh.
The criminal actions of Azerbaijan against the physical and psychological integrity of the people of Artsakh and the defamation of the Russian peacekeepers have been systematic and deliberate, organized with the knowledge of the Azerbaijani authorities and at their behest.
All the registered cases once again prove the direct and indisputable intention of the Azerbaijani side to disrupt the normal life of the peaceful population of the Republic of Artsakh and subject Artsakh to ethnic cleansing,” the statement reads.
