War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity Committed by

the Azerbaijani Government since 27 September 2020

By Mariam Nazaretyan, Esq. and Haig Ter-Ghevondian, Esq.

Research compiled of war crimes committed by the Azerbeijani Armed Forces, Azerbaijani government, and, in some instances, Turkish government during the 2020 Artsakh war. It is highly likely that this chart may not include all violations. If you know of any violations that were not included, please do not hesitate to contact us.

This chart is a starting point to document the war crimes that occured from 27 September to 10 November 2020 and should not, by no means, be referenced as a source. We highly encourage you to conduct your own research as well.

*TRIGGER WARNING* Please be aware that some of the media included under the “links” section contain sensitive and/or triggering material. Some descriptions under the “example(s) of violations” section may also contain sensitive and/or triggering material. Most have been marked, but there is the potential that not all have been flagged.

International Law / Statute

Example(s) of Violations

Date

Link

Recruitment, use, financing and training of mercenaries in violation of:

1. Protocol I to the Geneva Convention - Article 47(1);

2. International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries - Article 2; and/or

3. International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries - Article 5(1) and (2).

Rebels from Syria recruited to fight against Armenians in Artsakh.

This information has also been confirmed by European, Armenian, and Russian authorities.

27.09.2020

Guardian article

CNN article

Washington Post article

Wall Street Journal article

Foreign Policy article

Independent article

Instagram post of Zartonk Media

Interrogation of Syrian Merc

UN Working Group on the use of Mercenaries statement

Research by Simon Saradzhyan

Attacks targeting civilians and civilian objects in violation of:

1. Rome Statute - Article 8(2)(a)(iv) and 2(b)(i), (ii), (iv), and (v);

2. Protocol I to the Geneva Convention - Article 51(2), Article 51(4), and Article 51(5); and/or

3. Protocol I to the Geneva Convention - Article 52(1).

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Stepanakert.

27.09.2020

YouTube video by Factor tv

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Martuni.

YouTube video by Factor tv

Telegram message from Re:public of Artsakh

Azerbaijani armed forces targeted a civilian vehicle, seriously injuring the family.

*Trigger Warning* Facebook post by Armenian Unified Infocenter

*Trigger Warning* News.am article (in Armenian)

Rocket lands in a home where a pregnant woman was sleeping in her bed. Luckily the rocket was a dud.

Tweet from ONC3X

Pregnant woman seriously injured as a result of the shelling of settlements, gave birth to a healthy baby.

28.09.2020

Armtimes article (in Armenian)

Zartonk Media Instagram post

Tweet from Artak Beglaryan

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Martuni.

YouTube video by Factor tv

Azerbaijani armed forces targeted a civilian vehicle, killing a 9-year-old, injuring the mother.

Zartonk Media Instagram post

Armenpress article

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Vardenis, Armenia.

29.09.2020

Armenpress article (in Armenian)

Zartonk Media article

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Stepanakert.

Telegram message from Re:public of Artsakh

Zartonk Media article

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Martakert. Three civilians had been killed and one was injured as a result.

30.09.2020

Armenpress article (in Armenian)

Zartonk Media article

Tweet from Artsakh's Ombudsman

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Hadrut.

01.10.2020

Armenpress article (in Armenian)

Zartonk Media article

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Martakert.

*Trigger Warning* YouTube video by Factor tv

Tweet from Artak Beglaryan

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Martuni.

Tweet from Artak Beglaryan

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Gegharkunik, Armenia.

Zartonk Media article

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Hadrut.

02.10.2020

Factor article (in Armenian)

Armenpress article (in Armenian)

Zartonk Media article

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Stepanakert.

YouTube video by WarGonzo

Tweet from Artak Beglaryan

YouTube video by Factor tv

Zartonk Media article

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Stepanakert.

03.10.2020

Zartonk Media article

Telegram message from Kotsnews (in Russian)

Stepanakert’s electricity network building was struck with a missile, leaving the city without electricity.

Zartonk Media article

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Stepanakert with cluster bomb missiles.

04.10.2020

Tweet from Igor Zhdanov

YouTube video by Factor tv

Zartonk Media article

YouTube video by Azatutyun TV

Zartonk Media article

YouTube video by Bars Media Documentary Film Studio

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Stepanakert.

05.10.2020

Tweet from Artak Beglaryan

YouTube video by WarGonzo

Telegram message from Kotsnews (in Russian)

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Shushi.

News.am article (in Armenian)

Armenpress article (in Armenian)

Amnesty International publishes an article where Denis Krivosheev states “The use of cluster bombs in any circumstances is banned under international humanitarian law, so their use to attack civilian areas is particularly dangerous and will only lead to further deaths and injuries.”

Amnesty International article

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Stepanakert.

06.10.2020

Factor article (in Armenian)

Zartonk Media article

YouTube video by WarGonzo

Telegram message from WarGonzo (in Russian)

Telegram message from Kotsnews (in Russian)

Telegram message from Infocom (in Armenian)

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Stepanakert.

07.10.2020

Zartonk Media article

Telegram message from WarGonzo (in Russian)

Zartonk Media article

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Hadrut.

Armenpress article (in Armenian)

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Shushi.

Armenpress article (in Armenian)

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Stepanakert.

08.10.2020

Zartonk Media article

Ghazanchetsots, a church in Shushi, struck two times.

YouTube video by News.am

Tweet from Artak Beglaryan

Tweet from Artak Beglaryan

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Stepanakert.

09.10.2020

YouTube video by Factor tv

Telegram message from Infocom (in Armenian)

Telegram message from WarGonzo (in Russian)

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Stepanakert.

10.10.2020

Armenpress article (in Armenian)

Zartonk Media article

Azerbaijani insurgents kill two civilians, a mother and her disabled son, at their home in Hadrut.

Zartonk Media article

Tweet from Artak Beglaryan

*Trigger Warning* Azeri War Crimes article

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Martuni, Shushi, and other towns and villages.

Zartonk Media article

Tweet from Artak Beglaryan

As of October 10, approximately 180 cassette bombs have been found in the streets of Stepanakert near civil infrastructures and residential buildings.

Facebook post of Rescue Service of the NKR

News.am article (in Armenian)

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Stepanakert, Hadrut, Martuni and other towns and villages.

11.10.2020

Factor article (in Armenian)

Telegram message from Kotsnews (in Russian)

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Martakert.

13.10.2020

Armenpress article (in Armenian)

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Martakert.

14.10.2020

Armenpress article (in Armenian)

Kindergarten targeted in Martuni.

Tweet from ICRC

YouTube video by Patrick Lancaster

Hospital targeted in the north-eastern direction of Artsakh.

Tweet from Artak Beglaryan

Tweet from Artak Beglaryan

School targeted in Stepanakert.

Tweet from Artak Beglaryan

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Stepanakert.

15.10.2020

Factor article (in Armenian)

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Knaravan.

Armenpress article (in Armenian)

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Martuni.

Telegram message from Infocom (in Armenian)

News.am article (in Armenian)

Tweet from Artak Beglaryan

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Hadrut and Kashatagh.

16.10.2020

Armenpress article (in Armenian)

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Stepanakert and Shosh.

Tweet from MFA of Armenia

Armenpress article (in Armenian)

Telegram message from Infotheque24 (in Russian)

Zartonk Media article

Tweet from Artak Beglaryan

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Stepanakert.

17.10.2020

Armenpress article (in Armenian)

Armenpress article (in Armenian)

Tweet from Artak Beglaryan

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Martuni, Aygehovit, and Ishkanadzor.

19.10.2020

Armenpress article (in Armenian)

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Martakert.

Armenpress article (in Armenian)

Secondary school in Gegharkunik, Armenia targeted.

Aysor article

Tweet from Zartonk Media

Photos of destroyed civilian buildings in Stepanakert caused by polonez missiles

Telegram message from SKmilitary diary (in Russian)

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Martuni and Martakert.

21.10.2020

Armenpress article (in Armenian)

Zartonk Media article

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Askeran and Martuni.

22.10.2020

Tweet from Artak Beglaryan

Armenpress article (in Armenian)

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Martakert.

Telegram message from Infocom (in Armenian)

Armenpress article (in Armenian)

Civilians and civilian areas targeted in Stepanakert and Martuni.

23.10.2020

Armenpress article (in Armenian)

Armenpress article (in Armenian)

Tweet from Artsakh Ombudsman

Zartonk Media article

Human Rights Watch publi