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As a result of the November 14 criminal acts and incursions of the Azerbaijani armed forces, and their November 16 armed attacks of terrorist nature, the lives and health of the civilian population of a number of villages of the Sisian community in Armenia’s Syunik Province is seriously endangered, Armenian Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan said in a statement.

According to the information provided to the ombudsman, the shelling and explosions are heard in the villages of Ishkhanasar, Noravan and Aghitu, as well as by some residents of Sisian town.

Shootings from various calibers of firearms were also heard in Noravan; the residents heard shots from 1pm today and the shootings were still heard as of 6:55pm, he said.

Tatoyan underscored that as a result of the unlawful incursions by the Azerbaijani military in Syunik Province in May 2021, residents of those communities were deprived of the opportunity to use their lands, since the Azerbaijani servicemen are deployed and have positioned in those lands without legal grounds.

“For instance, in Noravan, people were deprived of 200-400 hectares of pastures and grasslands. In Aghitu, people were deprived of 800 hectares of lands, out of which 200 hectares are grasslands, and 600 hectares are pastures,” he said.

Tatoian stated that the Armenian army is directly protecting the lives and health of civilians, adding the actions of Azerbaijani forces must be considered in the context of Baku’s genocidal policy.