US DEPARTMENT OF STATE 2008 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT: KARABAKH

ArmInfo
2009-02-27 17:51:00

ArmInfo. US Department of State has published 2008 Human Rights Report
touching upon Karabakh conflict alongside with other issues. The
report contains some, to put it mildly, unclear term and definitions.

Thus it says: ‘Ethnic Armenian separatists, with Armenia’s support,
continued to control most of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan
and seven surrounding Azerbaijani territories. Landmines placed along
the 540 mile border with Azerbaijan and along the line of contact in
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict continued to cause bodily harm.

During the first 11 months of the year government sources reported
that two military personnel were killed and 19 military personnel
injured by landmine explosions. There were no reports of civilian
deaths or injuries caused by landmines.

During the year shootings along the militarized line of contact
separating the sides as a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict again
resulted in numerous casualties on both sides. According to official
information, three military personnel and two civilians were killed,
and 21 military and two civilians were injured, along the line of
contact. On June 17 and 18, two civilians who were residents of the
village of Chinari in the Tavush region were shot by snipers while
working in their fields; they died on June 18’.

It is noteworthy that by official data of Armenian Armed Forces
General Staff, the violation of ceasefire by Azerbaijani Armed
Forces resulted in killing 7 people – among them were two civilians
(village of Chinari, Tavush region) and 5 servicemen. Another 26 people
(including three civilians) were wounded.