Executive Summary
On March 20, 2025, Azerbaijan began a barrage of gunfire at night targeting the civilian population of Armenians in Syunik, located in southeastern Armenia on the border with Azerbaijan, approximately 170 kilometers from the capital Yerevan. Following first-hand accounts of the shootings into the populated villages, this article reports directly on the escalation of the dangerous situation in the southeastern region of Armenia, specifically in the villages of Khoznavar and Khnatsakh. These repeated cross-border attacks are damaging homes and vital infrastructure, and having a psychological impact on residents, including children, making everyday life unbearable. The Azerbaijani military is occupying parts of sovereign Armenia, creating conditions so that the villagers are being forced to leave and seek refuge elsewhere.
Evidence
The Center for Truth and Justice (CFTJ) has collected audiovisual recordings, photographic evidence, and first-hand testimonies from the Syunik region, between March 29 and April 30, 2025, from the residents in Khoznavar and Khnatsakh villages. The evidence shows a systematic pattern of targeting Armenians by the Azerbaijani military forces. CFTJ’s methodology of documenting war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other acts of violence against Armenians by Azerbaijan can be found here.
