A Primer for Non-Armenians on the violence Armenia-Azerbaijan Border.
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I just wanted to take a moment to explain what’s been happening along the Armenian-Azerbaijan border and why it’s important to all Americans, not just those of Armenian descent.
So to update you on the situation:
On July 12, Azerbaijani Armed Forces launched provocative actions in the direction of Armenia’s state border resulting in military action. Today, Armenian civilian settlements have been targeted by Azerbaijan, namely the villages of Chinari, Aygepar, Nerkin Karmiraghbyur and Paravakar; the city of Berd has also been targeted today. Two factories in the town have come under targeted attack; a gas pipeline has been hit several times. The peaceful civilian population has come under attack. Luckily we have no civilian casualties.
Over the course of the shelling, the Armenian Armed Forces carried out their mission, which is to stop the adversary. The adversary has put to use different caliber mortars and tanks. We will try to organize special infotours tomorrow to see the damage on the ground as well as the type of shelling used.
The Azerbaijani Armed Forces have acted in accordance with their already recognizable “handwriting.” They have deployed military equipment adjacent to a settlement and with that they have targeted their own civilian population. We have in our possession substantial proof of this.
Now, clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia are unfortunately nothing new. Tensions have been high for the last few years where (among many other transgressions) Azeri troops crossed the border and killed an elderly couple in their home in Artsakh.
Four Armenians have died in the last 24 hours, and unfortunately, they will not be the last. (For updates on this situation, please visit EVN Report for daily updates.)
What should be important to Americans, and not just Americans of Armenian descent is that these clashes are happening amid this Pandemic where there is supposed to be a global ceasefire.
