The Office of the Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Armenia (RA) has prepared a special report on the need for a security zone in all areas of contact with Azerbaijan.

"Visits were made to all RA border settlements, continuous monitoring was carried out in Syunik and Gegharkunik [Provinces] for a year. The report showed—with facts—the dangers, brought objective evidence," Armenia’s ombudsman Arman Tatoyan told a press conference Wednesday.

"The report is completely based on open sources, in no way does the report show the deployments, positions in Armenia. Moreover, the work of this report once again gave grounds to be convinced that the servicemen of Armenia’s border troops and the armed forces are carrying out a heroic service—having a unique mission to protect the lives of the RA residents, peaceful coexistence, and all other vital rights," he said.

Tatoyan noted that the Azerbaijani criminal terrorist acts were substantiated by facts. "We have shown the connection between the policy of the Azerbaijani authorities and the ongoing violations. We have substantiated that the security zone is necessary. Azerbaijani flags, military, various equipment, video cameras must be removed from the immediate vicinity of our villages and the roads connecting our communities to each other. Without it, there can be no restoration of rights," the ombudsman said, adding that the Armenian side should not withdraw, but rather the Azerbaijanis should leave because the report shows that all of their deployments are unlawful, without exception.

He emphasized that in the absence of border demarcation and delimitation, no international criteria were accepted.

"I will show that the Azerbaijani armed forces are physically present today on lands belonging to the [Armenian] people since Soviet times. We have substantiated that the delimitation and demarcation of borders cannot be considered legitimate if it does not ensure human rights, does not comply with the rules of democracy and the rule of law, and does not ensure the normal life of the people," Arman Tatoyan said.