Azerbaijani analyst points to increased number of mine explosion victims

A court in the Fizuli District of Azerbaijan has sentenced six residents to 30 days of arrest for entering a territory not cleared of mines, the country's General Prosecutor's Office (GPO) said yesterday. The number of cases when civilians become victims of mine explosions is growing despite the authorities' ban on visiting the conflict zone, Khalid Agaliev, an analyst, has noted.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 2, three residents of the Fizuli District blew themselves up by a mine. One of them died and two others were wounded. The incident occurred in the village of Yukhary Yaglyvend, Fizuli District, after three local residents had penetrated the territory where hostilities were taking place during the autumn escalation of the Karabakh conflict

In Azerbaijan, law enforcers have detained seven residents who had penetrated into the territory of the Fizuli District, which has not been cleared of mines. The court arrested six of them for 30 days each; one resident was fined by 150 manats (USD 90), the countries MIA and GPO stated in a joint press release in the evening on February 5. "Once again, we urge our citizens not to visit [the territories not cleared of mines]," says the message received by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Azerbaijan sees more and more cases of mine explosions triggered by civilians, said Khalid Agaliev, an employee of the Civil Society Platform. "These territories are stuffed with mines and unexploded ordnances. Such travels are dangerous. Moreover, people who penetrate there without permissions put other people's health and lives at risk. After all, when explosions occur, doctors, policemen and militaries are sent there to rescue," Mr Agaliev told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 6, 2021 at 01:56 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.