Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan Sabina Aliyeva appealed to UNICEF Executive Director Katerina Russell.

According to the information provided to APA by the Office of the Ombudsman, the appeal states:

"The statement of December 27, 2022, made by the head of the Yerevan office of UNICEF, exceeding his mandate and powers, regarding the sovereign territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan is regrettable.

The views mentioned in the statement are biased and damage the reputation of UNICEF.

Thus, the statements in the statement, such as "The closure of the Lachin Corridor affects children, restricting their access to basic services necessary for their survival, healthy growth and well-being" do not reflect the truth.

As you know, as a result of the policy carried out by Armenia for nearly 30 years, the rights of Azerbaijani children, as stipulated in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, including the right to life, have been grossly violated.

As a result of the killing of 613 people, including 63 children, during the Khojaly genocide, as well as the killing of 9-year-old Fariz Badalov in Agdam district in 2011 and the grandmother of Zahra Guliyeva, who was not yet 2 years old in 2017, in Fuzuli district, as a result of the Armenian armed forces firing on civilian settlements. , the death of 13-year-old Aygun Shahmaliyeva as a result of the detonation of an explosive device installed on a children's toy by Armenia and released into the river in Tovuz region is one of the clear examples of children becoming victims of war crimes committed by Armenia.

Most of the 4,000 Azerbaijanis who disappeared as a result of the First Karabakh War and whose fates are still unknown are children.

Armenia has repeatedly grossly violated many international legal norms, including the Geneva Conventions of 1949, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Also, the targeting of civilian objects, the destruction of many residential houses, educational and health institutions led to the violation of children's education, health and other rights.

At the same time, intense firing caused psychological shock to the children.

In 2020, during the Patriotic War (Karabakh War II), 12 children were killed, 67 children were injured, and many children lost their parents as a result of the Armenian armed forces firing heavy artillery and long-range missiles at civilian settlements located in a number of cities and regions of Azerbaijan.

I would like to note with regret that despite the fact that we have repeatedly addressed appeals and statements to international organizations, including UNICEF, regarding the gross human rights violations by Armenia, no call or statement aimed at preventing such violations of rights has been made, and the crimes that have occurred have been met with silence. , double standards have been demonstrated.

I would like to state once again that in Azerbaijan, the rights of everyone, including every child, are respected without discrimination based on national, religious, racial and other characteristics, and they are ensured to live in peace, multiculturalism, and tolerance.

We would like to remind once again that the peaceful action around the Khankendi - Lachin road 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 descent, including children, living in the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan.

As the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan, I would like to state once again that we are ready to provide assistance to our citizens of Armenian origin living in the territory of Azerbaijan if any necessary needs arise.

Taking into account the above, I call on UNICEF to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, to demonstrate a neutral and impartial position, and invite joint cooperation in the field of human rights protection.