The Ombudsman made a statement in connection with the Day of Remembrance

Azerbaijan's Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva issued a statement in connection with September 27 – Remembrance Day.

As reported by BAKU.WS, the text of the statement is provided below:

"Six years have passed since September 27, 2020 – the day the Patriotic War began. This day, which became an important turning point in the history of the Azerbaijani people, also holds special significance in terms of eliminating the severe humanitarian consequences of the conflict, bringing to justice those who committed war crimes that resulted in human casualties, and restoring rights that had been violated over many years.

As a result of the Patriotic War, a new phase began in the restoration of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and the violated fundamental rights of people who had been forced to leave their native lands for many years.

The damage inflicted during the war on the life and health of the civilian population, the destruction of settlements and social infrastructure facilities entailed serious humanitarian consequences. These events once again demonstrate that it is the civilian population that bears the heaviest burden of armed conflicts, and that the protection of civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law, as well as ensuring the right to life, must invariably remain at the center of attention.

During the Patriotic War, the shelling by the armed forces of Armenia of Azerbaijani settlements with high civilian population density, particularly Ganja, Barda, Naftalan, Tartar and other cities and districts, using heavy artillery and long-range missile systems prohibited by international law, led to civilian casualties and injuries, as well as serious damage to residential buildings, social, educational, medical, religious and other civilian facilities. These facts were documented in reports prepared based on the results of fact-finding missions conducted by the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan during that period.

It is of great importance to conduct an objective and comprehensive investigation of the facts of violations of international law requirements in connection with actions directed against the civilian population and civilian objects, to identify the perpetrators and hold them accountable in accordance with national legislation and norms of international law. Ensuring that those who committed such acts do not go unpunished is essential for the protection of human rights and the prevention of similar cases in the future.

As the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, I believe that among the main humanitarian priorities of the post-conflict period should be the restoration of human rights violated as a result of wars and conflicts, establishing the fate of missing persons, clearing territories contaminated with mines and unexploded ordnance, as well as ensuring the safe and dignified return of former internally displaced persons to their native lands.

In this context, the large-scale reconstruction and development work carried out in the territories liberated from occupation, the return of people to their native lands, and the reliable provision of all their fundamental rights make a significant contribution to strengthening peace and sustainable development.

The significant results achieved in advancing the peace agenda between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, as well as on the path toward completing the peace agreement process, are of particular importance for the future of the entire region. This opens new opportunities for strengthening sustainable and long-term peace, stability, security and mutual cooperation.

In this context, preserving the achieved opportunities for peace and transforming them into sustainable peace places an important responsibility on international organizations and the global community, states