Amnesty International: Bombings in civilian areas must stop immediately

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Experts from the Amnesty International's Crisis Response team have examined available evidence amid the ongoing conflicts between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Karabakh region in the South Caucasus.

According to the team's findings, the evidence "strongly suggests the use of ballistic missiles and notoriously inaccurate rocket artillery salvos that have caused civilian deaths, injuries and widespread damage in recent days, in apparent violation of international humanitarian law."

Against this backdrop, the organization has called on both Armenia and Azerbaijan "to immediately stop the use of heavy explosive weapons with wide-area effects in densely populated civilian areas."

'Respect international humanitarian law'

According to the statement of Amnesty International regarding the issue, civilian casualties and severe damage to civilian buildings were reported most notably in the city of Ganja in Azerbaijan that has repeatedly suffered artillery shelling from the Armenian side in recent days, as well as in the Armenia-controlled Nagorno-Karabakh region.

"The evidence of the use of ballistic missiles and other explosive weapons with wide-area effects in civilian neighbourhoods tells a story of shocking disregard for life and the laws of war," has said Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International's acting Head of Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

"Civilians continue to be killed, injured and left homeless as reckless strikes ruin lives and reduce homes to rubble.

"Photo and video evidence show the devastating damage that these weapons can cause as hospitals and schools have been reportedly destroyed, and other vital civilian infrastructure such as roads and communication networks damaged.

"We are once again calling on all parties to the conflict to prioritize the protection of civilians, and respect international humanitarian law. Using these types of weapons and weapon systems in populated areas must stop immediately."

'Azerbaijan had likely used banned cluster bombs'

Amnesty International has also reminded the international community that it previously warned against the use of banned cluster bombs, after its experts found that Azerbaijan had likely used the weapons in the region.

"Azerbaijan has alleged use of cluster munitions by the Armenian side, but Amnesty International as yet has been unable to verify these allegations," Amnesty International has said and added, "The organization is calling on both Azerbaijan and Armenia to join the Convention on Cluster Munitions, the global treaty banning the weapons."

(PT/SD)