The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva, has issued a statement regarding the 5th anniversary of Victory Day.
According to Modern.az, the statement reads:
"On September 27, 2020, the armed forces of Armenia committed war crimes by intensively shelling residential areas densely populated by Azerbaijani civilians, using heavy weapons, with the aim of continuing their policy of occupation. As a result, numerous innocent people were killed and wounded, and civilian, administrative, and social facilities were destroyed.
With these actions, Armenia violated the principles of international law, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, non-use of force, and peaceful settlement of disputes, thereby posing serious threats to peace and security, and to the life and health of people, by committing military aggression against the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan, exercising its right to self-defense enshrined in the UN Charter, carried out counter-offensive operations to protect the lives and health of its citizens and to liberate its territories that had been under occupation for nearly thirty years. Under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Mr. Ilham Aliyev, and with the solidarity of our people, our valiant army liberated our territories from occupation in just 44 days, thereby achieving a historic success and bringing the joy of glorious Victory to our people.
In the post-war period, local anti-terrorist operations were carried out in September 2023 to prevent the provocative actions of separatist forces posing a threat to peace and tranquility, as well as to protect human rights and freedoms. As a result of the victory achieved during the Patriotic War and anti-terrorist measures, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state were fully ensured, and broad opportunities for the protection of human rights and freedoms in the region were created.
In August of the current year, during the meeting of the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington D.C., with the participation of the President of the United States of America, for the purpose of ensuring sustainable peace in the South Caucasus as a whole, the initialing of the “Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia” laid the foundation for a favorable environment for the peoples living in the region to live prosperous lives in peace, without interfering in each other's internal affairs.
Despite all positive developments, crucial problems that require resolution still remain, such as clarifying the fate of our compatriots who went missing during the occupation and war, fully ensuring the right of former internally displaced persons to a safe and dignified return to our liberated territories, and providing our country with accurate mine maps to accelerate the demining process.
As the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, I would like to note that international organizations, world states, and ombudsman and national human rights institutions of foreign countries should not spare their joint initiatives for ensuring international legal norms, restoring human rights and freedoms violated as a result of war, and establishing sustainable development and lasting peace.
I deeply commemorate the cherished memory of our martyrs who lost their lives for the full assurance of our country's territorial integrity and sovereignty, and I wish lasting peace and tranquility to our country, the region, and the world".
