Yerevan /Mediamax/. The fact-finding task group of Armenian Human Rights Defender’s Office has confirmed the advance of Azerbaijan in the direction of Nerkin Hand village of Armenia’s Syunik region.

Earlier, Armenian Ministry of Defense refuted the fact of the advance.

“As a result of talks and discussions, it was registered that the deployment of the Azerbaijani armed forces, including the installation of several tents on the hill near Nor Hand cemetery, memorial to the victims of the Patriotic War and Shinategh community in early March 2022 as well as the new roads being built behind their positions are new. The residents of the mentioned area did not notice the Azerbaijani servicemen or any position previously, noting that they had collected wood from that place two months ago. Moreover, according to the residents, the shepherd of the village was the first to notice the Azerbaijani servicemen.

In the current situation, it is important to register that the main occupation of the residents of Nerkin Hand is cattle breeding and agriculture. As a result of the new positioning by the Azerbaijani armed forces, the cemetery of the settlement, the memorial to the victims of the Patriotic War, the church, as well as most of the pastures of the village – about 50 hectares – as well as the arable lands and gardens of some villagers, appeared under direct target and monitoring of the Azerbaijani armed forces.

This situation has created serious difficulties for the residents engaged in cattle breeding and agriculture to take care of their livelihood. Although there was no panic in the village, the villagers were uncertain about the created situation,” the Office of the Ombudsman said in a statement.

The results and conclusions of the visit of the Human Rights Defender’s representatives, as well as the proposals for the solution of the mentioned and other issues, were sent to the government.