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2020 bombardment of Stepanakert

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2020 Bombardment of Stepanakert
Part of 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war
LocationStepanakert,
Date27 September 2020 (2020-09-27) – 9 November 2020 (2020-11-09)
(4 years, 1 month and 5 days)[1] (GMT+4)
Attack type
Bombardment
Deaths13 [2]
Injured51 [2]
PerpetratorsAzerbaijani Armed Forces

The bombardment of Stepanakert (Armenian: Ստեփանակերտի ռմբակոծություններ) started on 27 September 2020 as a result of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. Stepanakert is the capital of the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh, a disputed territory within Azerbaijan.[3][4][5][6] International third parties confirmed witnessing evidence of the use of cluster bombs and missiles by Azerbaijan against civilian areas in Stepanakert; this was denied by Azerbaijan.[7][8]

Background

Main article: 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war

The clashes are part of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh with an ethnic Armenian majority.[9][10][11][12] The region is a de jure part of Azerbaijan, but is de facto held by the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh, which is supported by Armenia.[13] The region has been historically inhabited and governed by ethnic Armenians. In 1921, Stalin made Nagorno-Karabakh an autonomous region in Soviet Azerbaijan, against the will of its majority ethnic Armenian population. Ethnic violence began in the late 1980s, and exploded into a full war following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. The First Nagorno-Karabakh War displaced over 500,000 Azerbaijani residents who used to live in the territory and surrounding provinces.[14] The War ended with a ceasefire in 1994, with the Republic of Artsakh controlling most of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, as well as the surrounding districts of Agdam, Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Kalbajar, Qubadli, Lachin and Zangilan of Azerbaijan.[15] Nagorno-Karabakh held an independence referendum in 1991, voting to secede from Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan did not recognize the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh and the war continued until the 1994 ceasefire.

For three decades, multiple violations of the ceasefire have occurred, the most serious incidents prior to the current conflict being the 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh clashes.[16] Long-standing international mediation attempts to create a peace process were initiated by the OSCE Minsk Group in 1994, with the interrupted Madrid Principles being the most recent iteration.[17][18][19] While how the present inhabitants of the area want to administer the territory is unclear, surveys indicate they do not want to be part of Azerbaijan. In August 2019, in an unprecedented declaration in favour of unification, the Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, visited Nagorno-Karabakh, stating, “Artsakh is Armenia, full stop”.[14]

Skirmishes occurred on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan in July 2020.[16] Thousands of Azerbaijanis demonstrated for war against Armenia in response, with Turkey propagandising in support of Azerbaijan.[20]

On 23 July 2020, Armenia announced the start of a joint air defence system exercise with Russia and an analysis of the July 2020 clashes.[21] A week later, Azerbaijan conducted a series of military exercises that lasted from 29 July to 10 August,[22] and further exercises in early September with the involvement of Turkey.[23] Turkey's support for Azerbaijan has been seen as connected to its expansionist, neo-Ottoman foreign policy,[24] linking its intervention to its policies in Syria, Iraq, and the Eastern Mediterranean.[25]

Prior to the resumption of hostilities, allegations emerged that hundreds of Syrian National Army members from the Hamza Division were transferred to Azerbaijan,[26] while Turkish media close to President Erdogan claimed that YPG and PKK members from Iraq and Syria were transferred to Nagorno-Karabakh in order to train Armenian militias against Azerbaijan.[27] The governments of both Azerbaijan and Armenia have denied allegations of involvement by foreign fighters.[28][29][30]

Bombardment

Shelling of Stepanakert on October 4, 2020.

International third parties confirmed witnessing evidence of the use of banned cluster munition by Azerbaijan against civilian areas in Stepanakert and Nagorno-Karabakh.[31][8] Reports indicated that Azerbaijan used missiles and cluster bombs starting on September 27, 2020. Over 180 cluster munitions were used between September 27, 2020 to October 10, 2020. Armenian experts have identified a Soviet-made Smerch rocket, 9N235 submunition to be one of the 72 bomblets dispersed. Israeli-made M095 DPICM cluster munitions was also identified.[6][7]

During an on-site investigation in Nagorno-Karabakh in October 2020, Human Rights Watch documented four incidents in which Azerbaijan used Israeli-made cluster munitions against civilian areas of Nagorno-Karabakh.[8] The HRW investigation team did not find any sort of military sites in the residential neighborhoods where the cluster munitions were used and condemned its use against civilian populated areas. Stephen Goose, arms division director at Human Rights Watch and chair of the Cluster Munition Coalition, stated that "the continued use of cluster munitions – particularly in populated areas – shows flagrant disregard for the safety of civilians.” He then added that "the repeated use of cluster munitions by Azerbaijan should cease immediately as their continued use serves to heighten the danger for civilians for years to come."[8] The HRW investigation team also noted that numerous civilian buildings and infrastructure, such as children's playgrounds, business, and homes, were heavily damaged due to shelling.[8]

Several outlets reported increased cases of COVID-19 as a result of the shelling and drone strikes by Azerbaijan in Stepanakert, where the population is forced to live in overcrowded bunkers, and the difficulty that entails for testing and contact tracing[32][33]

A partly destroyed middle school in Stepanakert

According to the Office of the President of the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh, hostilities commenced when at 08:03 Azerbaijani armed forces launched artillery and aerial strikes against civilian settlements, including the capital, Stepanakert. Authorities urged the population to seek cover in bomb shelters.[34] An air-raid siren was turned on in Stepanakert.[35] More than a dozen people were injured in Stepanakert (including women and children);[36] the Azerbaijani MoD denied these claims.[37]

At approximately 14:00, the Armenian MoD stated that Azerbaijani forces were bombarding Stepanakert.[38] As a result, the building of Ministry of Emergency Situations was partially destroyed and the cars in the parking lot were damaged.[39] Residential buildings and also a military hospital was targeted. Reports indicated that 1 civilian was killed and 4 injured.[40]

According to the Armenian government's Unified Info Center, Stepanakert, was shelled again Saturday morning.[41] "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has reported that at 11:00 a.m Azerbaijan resumed shelling of Stepanakert. Residents remained in shelters while air alert sirens were used to warn the population. Over the course of the day three explosions were heard.[42]

According to the Armenian government's Unified Info Center, Azerbaijan has targeted the Stepanakert maternity hospital.[43]

On December 11, 2020, Human Rights Watch released a comprehensive report about violations by Azerbaijan, also mentioning the attacks on Stepanakert using cluster munitions, Smerch, and Grad rockets, which occurred even though there was no evidence of military operations in those areas. The report also stated how in October, they spoke to 19 residents about the attacks, and the effects of the war in Stepanakert. HRW added a statement to the report saying "Such attacks are indiscriminate, violating the laws of war, because they do not distinguish between civilians and civilian objects and military targets." [2]

References

  1. ^ "Ստեփանակերտը հրթիռակոծվում է հեռահար հրթիռներով. թիրախում բնակելի թաղամասներն են". alternative.am (in Armenian). 9 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Azerbaijan: Unlawful Strikes in Nagorno-Karabakh". Human Rights Watch. December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  3. ^ "Armenia and Azerbaijan fight over disputed Nagorno-Karabakh". BBC News. 2020-09-27. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  4. ^ "Azerbaijan shelling Karabakh's capital, civilian settlements". PanARMENIAN.Net. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  5. ^ Hauer, Neil (October 16, 2020). "Nagorno-Karabakh: Sirens, shelling and shelters in Stepanakert". Aljazeera. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Freeman, Colin (October 5, 2020). "Azerbaijan dropping cluster bombs on civilian areas in war with Armenia". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Collins, Dylan (October 15, 2020). "Karabakh residents face lurking threat of unexploded cluster bombs". CTV News. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Azerbaijan: Cluster Munitions Used in Nagorno-Karabakh". Human Rights Watch. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  9. ^ Ardillier-Carras, Françoise (2006). Sud-Caucase: conflit du Karabagh et nettoyage ethnique [South Caucasus: Karabakh conflict and ethnic cleansing] (in French). pp. 409–432.
  10. ^ "UNHCR publication for CIS Conference (Displacement in the CIS) – Conflicts in the Caucasus". United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
  11. ^ Yamskov, A. N. (1991). Ethnic Conflict in the Transcausasus: The Case of Nagorno-Karabakh. Vol. 20. p. 659. {{cite book}}: |periodical= ignored (help)
  12. ^ Hambardzumyan, Viktor (1978). Լեռնային Ղարաբաղի Ինքնավար Մարզ (ԼՂԻՄ) [Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Region (NKAO)] (in Armenian). Vol. 4. Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia. p. 576.
  13. ^ "Nagorno-Karabakh profile". BBC News. 2016-04-06. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
  14. ^ a b Toal, Gerard; O’Loughlin, John; Bakke, Kristin M. "Nagorno-Karabakh: what do residents of the contested territory want for their future?". The Conversation. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  15. ^ "Military occupation of Azerbaijan by Armenia". Rule of Law in Armed Conflicts Project. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  16. ^ a b "Armenia/Azerbaijan – Border clashes between the two countries (15 Jul. 2020)". Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (France). Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  17. ^ "Is Turkey a brother in arms or just extending its footprint into Nagorno-Karabakh?". France 24. 2020-09-29. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  18. ^ Palmer, James. "Why Are Armenia and Azerbaijan Heading to War?". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  19. ^ "Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group". Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Retrieved 2020-10-09.
  20. ^ Weise, Zia; Cienski, Jan; Herszenhorn, David M. (28 September 2020). "The Armenia–Azerbaijan conflict explained". Politico. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  21. ^ "Армения и Россия проводят в Закавказье учения Объединённой системы ПВО". EADaily (in Russian). Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  22. ^ "Игра мускулами: зачем Азербайджан проводит учения с Турцией". Gazeta.Ru (in Russian). Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  23. ^ "Turkey-Azerbaijan military drills intimidate Armenia, President Aliyev says". Daily Sabah. 20 September 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  24. ^ Sahar, Sojla (2 September 2020). "Turkey's Neo-Ottomanism is knocking on the door". Modern Diplomacy.
  25. ^ Wastnidge, Edward (2019). "Imperial Grandeur and Selective Memory: Re-assessing Neo-Ottomanism in Turkish Foreign and Domestic Politics". Middle East Critique. 28: 7–28. doi:10.1080/19436149.2018.1549232. S2CID 149534930.
  26. ^ "Reports Turkey is transferring Syrian militants to Azerbaijan as hostilities against Armenia increases". Greek City Times. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  27. ^ "Armenia transfers YPG/PKK terrorists to occupied area to train militias against Azerbaijan". Daily Sabah. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  28. ^ "Azerbaijani President: There is not a single evidence of any foreign presence in Azerbaijan". APA.az. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2020. There is not a single evidence of any foreign presence in Azerbaijan. We have capable army. We have enough people in our army, we have enough people in our reserves. I announced a partial mobilization, which will allow us to involve tens of thousands of reservists. If necessary, so we don't need it. Armenia needs it, because Armenian population is declining. And it is only two million people.
  29. ^ "Turkish claims of PKK fighters in Armenia absolute nonsense: Armen Sarkissian". Al Arabia. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  30. ^ "CNN Türk caught spreading fake news about PKK Kurdish fighters operating in Artsakh". greekcitytimes.com. 3 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  31. ^ https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/10/armenia-azerbaijan-civilians-must-be-protected-from-use-of-banned-cluster-bombs/
  32. ^ https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-pandemics-azerbaijan-armenia-europe-14f519a45ce899c2c7a52cba7c876850
  33. ^ https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-thrives-in-karabakh-s-bomb-shelters-1.5159270
  34. ^ "Азербайджан бомбит Степанакерт, власти призывают население прятаться в убежищах" (in Russian). PanARMENIAN.Net. Archived from the original on 3 October 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  35. ^ "В Степанакерте снова объявили воздушную тревогу". REGNUM News Agency (in Russian). 28 September 2020. Archived from the original on 3 October 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  36. ^ "Միայն Ստեփանակերտում 10-ից ավելի վիրավոր կա, ներառյալ՝ երեխաներ ու կանայք. Արցախի ՄԻՊ". «Ազատ Եվրոպա/Ազատություն» ռադիոկայան. Archived from the original on 2020-09-29. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
  37. ^ "Azerbaijan Army does not shell civilians". mod.gov.az. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  38. ^ "Azerbaijan bombs capital city of Artsakh". Armenpress. 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  39. ^ "Ադրբեջանը հարվածներ է հասցնում Ստեփանակերտին /լրացվող/". armenpress.am (in Armenian). Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  40. ^ Avedian, Lillian (October 2, 2020). "Stepanakert Bombed as Sixth Day of Fighting Concludes". Armenian Weekly. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  41. ^ "Stepanakert shelled again Saturday morning (PHOTOS)". news.am. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  42. ^ Узел, Кавказский. "Azerbaijan resumes shelling attacks on Stepanakert". Caucasian Knot. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  43. ^ "Ադրբեջանը թիրախավորել է Ստեփանակերտի ծննդատունը". civilnet.am (in Armenian). Retrieved 2020-11-07.
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