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Armenia’s new Human Rights Defender Kristine Grigoryan on Monday denounced Azerbaijan’s continuous criminal acts against the Artsakh Armenians. Below is her full statement.

"For over a week now, the Azerbaijani side has not allowed the representatives of Artsakh to restore the alleged “disruption” of the gas pipeline. Hence, as a result, more than 100,000 people have been deprived of heating in cold weather conditions. In parallel, the electricity is being regularly cut off.

This further worsens the difficult humanitarian conditions which have emerged during and after the war. As a result, hospitals, schools, kindergartens, temporary shelters for displaced persons are deprived of their basic living conditions; it is impossible to exercise the right to health care of people, and the right of children to education.

Moreover, it has been a week since the Azerbaijani military forces have been shooting intensely towards civilians in Artsakh villages; Khramort village and Askeran town of the Askeran region, Karmir Shuka and Khnushinak villages of the Martuni region. In Khramort village, a civilian was injured.

All these are aimed at maintaining an atmosphere of fear and terror among the people living in Artsakh, with the ultimate aim of annihilating Artsakh’s indigenous Armenian population.

I strongly condemn the ongoing criminal policy of the Azerbaijani state. I call on international organizations to clearly respond to the situation and to step up the pressure on Azerbaijan to stop its criminal activity.

Human rights are universal, and they should be viewed outside the geopolitical framework. This statement has been sent to international organizations and diplomatic missions."