YEREVAN. – The Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Karen Andreasyan, has petitioned to several dozen international organizations and a number of his foreign colleagues, and regarding the Armenian civilians that were recently killed and injured by Azerbaijan.

“Yesterday [i.e. Thursday], Azerbaijan grossly violated Article 3 of the Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians. (…). Azerbaijan attacked the residential homes and sowing areas of the border villages of Armenia.

“Under the conditions of the international community’s inadequate response to the killing of civilians, the self-defense counterblow will become the only solution. [But] this is unacceptable and undesirable to us [i.e. the Armenian side], since human life—both in Armenia and elsewhere—is a supreme value to us.

“In order to prevent new victims, the international community needs to stop the murderer state and the cautious diplomatic demeanor of equating the civilians being shelled, and [instead] support the civilians, the real protection of human rights, and the elementary upholding of the Geneva Conventions,” the Armenian Ombudsman’s respective statement specifically reads.

As reported earlier, three Armenian civilians—two from Berdavan village and one from Paravakar town—died during Thursday evening’s shelling by Azerbaijan at the border settlements of Armenia’s Tavush Province.

All three victims were women; two of them were elderly, whereas the other was 41 years old.

And four others are injured. Three of them are still in hospital, whereas the other has been discharged from hospital.

The Ministry of Defense (MOD) of Armenia had stated that the situation on the Armenia-Azerbaijan has become relatively stable as a result of the actions taken by the Armenian Armed Forces.

There are no casualties or injuries among the Armenian military servicemen.

According to the MOD’s information, the Azerbaijani side, however, does have casualties and injuries.