The Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Armenia (RA), Arman Tatoyan, on Friday issued a statement on the situation at the border settlements of Gegharkunik Province. The statement reads as follows, in particular:

"Azerbaijani servicemen illegally stop the villagers at the pastures near the villages of Gegharkunik Province, demand to give explanations as to in what direction they are moving, for what purpose, and what they are transporting, try to carry out illegal searches of cars, threaten.

Statement on the results of additional fact-finding work:

This statement refers to the violations of the rights of and the dangers for the border residents in the villages of Verin Shorzha, Nerkin Shorzha, Norabak, Kut of Gegharkunik Province, due to the illegal presence of Azerbaijani armed servicemen in the sovereign territory of the RA.

The apparent illegal presence of Azerbaijani armed servicemen in the immediate vicinity of the villages of Gegharkunik Province in the sovereign territory of the RA, their openly criminal acts have seriously endangered the lives and health of the residents of the border villages of the RA, completely disrupted their normal lives and mental immunity.

Pastures, hayfields, lands of other importance [there] cannot be used [now] (…).

The water resources, from which irrigation and drinking water are formed, have come under the possession or control of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.

The rights of the border residents of the RA are guaranteed under the Constitution of the RA and international requirements.

Thus, the creation of a security zone is an absolute necessity to restore the violated rights of the people and to safeguard them from the dangers of violations.”