Civilians on front-line suffer consequences of the Karabakh conflict.

Three civilians were injured earlier this week whilst attending a wedding party in Azerbaijan's Terter Region, close to the line of contact between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces in the Karabakh conflict zone. Azerbaijani military sources accused the Armenian military of targeting a wedding tent where local citizens, many of them elderly people, were attending a celebration. The incident happened in the village of Qapani on Monday, 1 September. Among those injured is a child. Armenia has denied the incident.

There has been a sharp reaction by Azerbaijan following the incident. A spokesperson for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry described the incident as a serious violation of international humanitarian law. Ministry spokesman Hikmet Hajiyev told journalists that international humanitarian law strictly forbids any direct and deliberate assault on civilians. Hajiyev noted that  "this deliberate act of the Armenian armed forces is a war crime according to international criminal law".

The matter was also raised by the Deputy Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Bahar Muradova.  Muradova said that despite the ceasefire agreement between the two countries, people do not live in peace at all and daily provocations of this kind on the front line occur frequently, harming people’s lives and property. Muradova said every incident of this kind raises concerns and reminds everybody that the Karabakh conflict is a threat to peace not only in the region but worldwide. Muradova called on the OSCE Minsk Group co-Chair to do more to eliminate such incidents and to bring a about a resolution of the conflict.

source: commonspace.eu

photo: The entrance to Azerbaijan's terter Region (archive picture).

 

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
More clashes between police and protestors in Tbilisi as government pushes through "foreign agents law"

More clashes between police and protestors in Tbilisi as government pushes through "foreign agents law"

On May 1, the Georgian government passed through Parliament the controversial “Foreign Agents Law” in its second reading with 83 votes in favor and 23 against, despite strong opposition from international partners, large segments of Georgian society and opposition MPs and politicians. Outside parliament massive public protests saw clashes between police and protestors President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili addressed the protesters in the evening of May 1, when the situation on Chitadze Street, by the gate of the parliament, became tense as several youths tried to break through the closed gates into the yard of the parliament. She said she stands by the protesters’ side. She called the rallies “extraordinary” saying that the whole world is watching Georgians demonstrate the attitude, determination, and perseverance. She said these qualities are important in order to win in the long term struggle, the final stage of which will be the Parliamentary elections, which “will show that Georgia will never be Russia.” Salome Zurabishvili addressed the youth “with flame in their hearts” as she called them, saying that “some things are not necessary” and appealed “to leave along the gates of the Parliament” saying that “nothing happens there”. Noting that “our struggle” is no longer about the Foreign Agents Law”, she said that the longer-term struggle is about the elections” and about “all the laws that this government has passed that distance us from the EU”. That is the goal, she stressed. Noting that it’s Holy Week, she appealed for peaceful protests and to avoid provoking violence, saying: “We will show the world what Georgia and its youth can do.”

Popular

Editor's choice
News
More clashes between police and protestors in Tbilisi as government pushes through "foreign agents law"

More clashes between police and protestors in Tbilisi as government pushes through "foreign agents law"

On May 1, the Georgian government passed through Parliament the controversial “Foreign Agents Law” in its second reading with 83 votes in favor and 23 against, despite strong opposition from international partners, large segments of Georgian society and opposition MPs and politicians. Outside parliament massive public protests saw clashes between police and protestors President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili addressed the protesters in the evening of May 1, when the situation on Chitadze Street, by the gate of the parliament, became tense as several youths tried to break through the closed gates into the yard of the parliament. She said she stands by the protesters’ side. She called the rallies “extraordinary” saying that the whole world is watching Georgians demonstrate the attitude, determination, and perseverance. She said these qualities are important in order to win in the long term struggle, the final stage of which will be the Parliamentary elections, which “will show that Georgia will never be Russia.” Salome Zurabishvili addressed the youth “with flame in their hearts” as she called them, saying that “some things are not necessary” and appealed “to leave along the gates of the Parliament” saying that “nothing happens there”. Noting that “our struggle” is no longer about the Foreign Agents Law”, she said that the longer-term struggle is about the elections” and about “all the laws that this government has passed that distance us from the EU”. That is the goal, she stressed. Noting that it’s Holy Week, she appealed for peaceful protests and to avoid provoking violence, saying: “We will show the world what Georgia and its youth can do.”