The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan Sabina Aliyeva commented on the statement of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe.

According to the information provided to APA by the Office of the Ombudsman, the statement of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Dunya Mijatovich, regarding the peaceful action held by representatives of civil society institutions around the Khankendi - Lachin road is regrettable:

"Although a more objective, impartial and fair approach is expected from the Commissioner for Human Rights, the views contained in his latest statement are not true, but are political in nature and overshadow the peace-building activities in the region.

As I mentioned in my previous statement on the issue, the illegal exploitation of mineral deposits by Armenia in the territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily stationed, as well as the resulting serious environmental damage in that area, are causing serious concern to the civilian population.

For this reason, civil society representatives are holding a peaceful action in order to draw the public's attention to the current danger.

As we have already stated, the mentioned peaceful action does not create any restrictions on the movement of vehicles for humanitarian purposes.

At the same time, there are no obstacles to the provision of necessary goods and medical services for residents of Armenian origin living in the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan.

Although it is directly related to its mandate, the occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia for nearly 30 years, the massacres committed against the civilian population, the looting of cities and villages, Armenia's policy of ethnic cleansing in the historical lands of Azerbaijan, and the use of prohibited weapons in regions with a dense population of civilians during the Patriotic War. The facts related to the loss of life and health of hundreds of civilians as a result of firing, the contamination of our lands with mines during the occupation and later, the fact that Armenia did not provide any information about the fate of nearly four thousand missing compatriots, and other such acts that are contrary to the universal principles of international law. It did not bother the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe.

It should be noted that the return of Azerbaijanis, who were displaced from their native lands for nearly 30 years, to the liberated lands is delayed even today due to the destruction and mine terrorism caused by Armenia during the occupation.

I would like to remind you that in the Resolution "Situation in the Occupied Territories of Azerbaijan" adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2006, the issue of assessing the impact of fires on the occupied Azerbaijani lands on the ecological security of the region was raised, adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in 2016. In the resolution regarding the intentional deprivation of water to the residents of the border regions of Azerbaijan, the immediate withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the said region and the provision of an on-site investigation by independent engineers and hydrologists were demanded.

The Commissioner, who did not respond to our repeated appeals regarding the above-mentioned human rights violations committed by the military and political authorities of Armenia, as well as the serious threat to people's lives caused by mines buried during the occupation and post-war period, ecological terrorism, currently states that the citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan are not allowed to comply with the national legislation, including the European Convention on Human Rights. I consider it a biased approach to voice unfounded opinions against our country regarding the anti-ecological terrorist action that violates the rights of people to live in a healthy environment, using their established rights, and call for a neutral position.