Armenian media and NGOs denounce Azerbaijan's attacks on civilians and journalists

In a joint statement issued on 1 October, ten Armenian media and non-governmental organisations have called for strong international condemnation of the Azerbaijani army's attacks on journalists and other civilians in Nagorno-Karabakh and for new safeguards for journalists in the conflict zone. Among the signatories of this manifesto are: The Committee for the Protection of Freedom of Expression, Yerevan Press Club, Center for Media Initiatives, Center for Freedom of Information, Institute of Media Diversity of Armenia, Public Journalism Club, Journalists for the Future (NGOs), Journalists for Human Rights (NGOs) and Goris Press Club.

Here is the press release:

"Today, on October 1st, 2020 Armenian and foreign journalists located in the town of Martuni, in Artsakh, suffered as a result of artillery fire from Azerbaijan. More specifically, representatives of “Le Monde” newspaper, correspondent Allan Kaval and photojournalist Rafael Charles Yaghobzadeh, cameraman of “Armenia” television company Aram Grigorian and correspondent of online news portal “24news.am” Sevak Vardumian were injured. Deputy editor-in-chief of the Russian “Dozhd” TV channel Dmitry Yelovsky also came under Azerbaijani fire, but he was able to take cover in a bomb shelter along with other journalists.

According to official information, Azerbaijani troops opened fire on the vehicle carrying representatives of Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency.

It is worth noting, that the journalists suffered in a region, which is quite far from the line of contact between the conflicting sides. This is yet another proof that the attacks of the Azerbaijani military are also directed against the civilian population. This fact, as well as firing on journalists is a gross violation of the Geneva Convention.

Given the above-mentioned circumstances, we, the undersigned media organizations, are calling on:

- The International Community to resolutely condemn the war unleashed by Azerbaijan and demand from the official Baku to stop attacks on civilians and media representatives performing their professional duty;

-Governments of Armenia and Artsakh to take additional steps to ensure the safety of journalists".

In another statement published by the Association of European Journalists (AEJ), they have also condemned the attacks against journalists in the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, published on Friday, October 2.

"The JNA condemns in the strongest terms all acts of violence by combatants against journalists and other media workers during the armed conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Civilians, including journalists, are fully entitled to protection under humanitarian law related to armed conflict and as set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1738. Targeting journalists and associated personnel in an armed conflict amounts to a war crime. We urge all parties to the conflict to strictly comply with their obligations and to refrain from any violation of international law.

The JNA is deeply concerned about the Azerbaijani bombings that have injured Armenian and foreign journalists covering the fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh.

On 1 October, two French journalists from the newspaper Le Monde were injured as a result of artillery fire. The correspondent Allan Kaval was operated on. Armenian TV cameraman Aram Grigorian and 24news.am correspondent Sevak Vardumian were also injured. Dmitry Yelovsky of the Russian TV channel Dozhd was also caught in the bombing but managed to escape.

While calling for an immediate end to the violence against journalists and other media professionals, we also urge the Azerbaijani authorities to allow safe access to the international media. Obstruction of the work of journalists in conflict zones prevents objective reporting and information reaching resident populations and the outside world. Azerbaijan should also stop restricting access to the Internet and disrupting social media platforms.

We urge all journalists reporting on the conflict to respect the principles of truthfulness, accuracy and objectivity in their reporting and to strive to maintain the highest standards of journalistic ethics at a time of serious misinformation and propaganda.

We call on media organisations to ensure the safety and protection of their employees by ensuring proper conduct, training and equipment.

The Azerbaijani armed forces attacked the capital of the separatist enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh with Stepanakert rockets this Saturday, while Yerevan and Baku accused each other of attacks on civilian targets.

"The enemy continues to violate all laws of war by attacking civilian targets in the deep rear. This Saturday they also attacked with Stepanakert rockets", declared the spokesman of the ministry of the self-proclaimed republic, Suren Sarumian, quoted by the Armenian portal Mediamax. The Karabakh representative said that the number of possible casualties and the damage caused is now being established.