Armed Forces of Azerbaijan will take adequate countermeasures to protect its civilians: Foreign Ministry

On October 4, 2020, the Armed Forces of Armenia continued targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure in Tartar city, as well as Horadiz city of Fuzuli district with rocket fires. The second biggest city of Azerbaijan, Ganja, was under rocket fire from the territory of Armenia.

Report was told in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as a result of Armenia's deliberate shelling, until now, 22 Azerbaijani civilians, including two schoolchildren, were killed and 74 injured.

Armenia's purposeful targeting of civilians and civilian objects is a flagrant violation of international law, including international humanitarian law. Despite numerous warnings by the Azerbaijani side, including via the relevant international organizations, the continuation of the targeted attacks on civilians by Armenia's armed forces is a clear demonstration of the purposeful killing of innocent people and continuation of the aggression policy of Armenia.

We underline that Armenia's military provocation is aimed at the conscious worsening of the situation on the ground and demonstrates the intention of Armenia to enlarge the zone of hostilities and scope of military operations. The Armed Forces of Azerbaijan will take adequate countermeasures to protect its civilians.

We urge Armenia to obey international law norms and principles, including its obligations under the international humanitarian law, and implement the demands of the United Nations Security Council's resolutions for immediate, complete, and unconditional withdrawal from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. We reiterate that full responsibility for the deterioration of the situation lies with Armenia's leadership.