16 July 2020, 11:20
Residents of Azerbaijani border villages report return to peaceful life
The situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border has stabilized; some evacuated residents have returned home, local authorities have reported.
On July 12, the situation on the border of the Tovuz District of Azerbaijan and the Tavush Region of Armenia aggravated. The sides exchanged accusations of shelling on a daily basis. Part of residents of the border villages of Agdam, Vakhidli and Alibeyli were evacuated. By summing up the 24 killed and wounded on the Armenian side and 16 victims in Azerbaijan, a total of 40 people fell victim to the conflict. On July 15, the Armenian Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced an escalation decline.
According to Baku, the situation worsened after the Armenian militaries launched an attack. In its turn, Armenia stated that the conflict escalated after an attempt to break through by Azerbaijanis.
Rakhilya Askerova, the head of the municipal council of the village of Agdam, Tovuz District, said that one shell hit the house. The owner, a 76-year-old man, died on 14 July from fragmental wounds.
Gyulnara Gulieva, the head of the municipal council of the village of Dondar Guschu, said that seven houses were damaged during the shelling.
The residents of the swelling settlements in Armenia that came under fire, interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot", stated that they would not leave their homes. No civilians suffered, the Armenian MoD has stated.
Avaz Gasanov, the head of the Society for Humanitarian Studies, has noted that shelling of civilian settlements is a gross violation of the international law.
Sabina Alieva, the Azerbaijani Ombudsperson, has stated a violation by Armenia of an international convention.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 15, 2020 at 11:22 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Faik Medjid Source: CK correspondent
