Azerbaijan has dismissed Armenia’s unfounded allegations concerning the mine threat and emphasized the need for international support in demining territories affected by occupation.
The Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan to the UN Office in Geneva and other international organizations issued a response to accusations made by the Armenian representative during the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
At the session, held on March 10 in Geneva, Azerbaijan strongly rejected the Armenian delegation’s claims and urged an end to the repetition of false narratives. The statement highlighted that Azerbaijan remains one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world, with over 1.5 million mines and numerous other explosive devices planted during the Armenian occupation. Currently, more than 13% of Azerbaijan’s territory remains affected by landmines.
"There is ample evidence that mines and booby traps were placed in residential areas and infrastructure far from the former line of contact, in locations from which civilians were forcibly displaced and are now expected to return. Even cemeteries and cultural sites were deliberately mined to maximize harm," the statement emphasized.
Since the end of the war in 2020, Azerbaijan has cleared approximately 180,000 hectares of land, detecting 56,460 mines and 121,188 explosive devices. However, the mine threat continues to hinder the reconstruction and development of liberated areas, obstructs the safe return of displaced persons, and complicates the search for around 4,000 missing Azerbaijani citizens.
In response to Armenia’s skepticism, Azerbaijan invited interested parties to review reports submitted to international organizations.
Azerbaijan also noted that since 2020, only 6% of the required funding for humanitarian demining has come from foreign sources, underscoring the urgent need for international solidarity and support in addressing this critical issue.
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