Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry has warned of the continued danger of landmines in the country, saying they were deliberately planted by Armenia.
The warning came after a civilian was killed in a mine explosion in the Aghdam region on April 2. “The mines deliberately and indiscriminately laid by Armenia continue to threaten the security and well-being of Azerbaijani civilians,” the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said in a statement on the X platform. Noting that 387 Azerbaijani citizens have been killed or seriously injured by mines since the end of the 2020 war, the ministry said, “The human cost of these hidden dangers is increasing every day.” It was emphasized that the permanent presence of mines in the region is not only a humanitarian crisis, but also one of the biggest obstacles to long-term peace and stability. “Mines constitute a serious obstacle to peace, reconciliation and stability in the region,” the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said. With civilian casualties on the rise and post-war reconstruction efforts stalled, Azerbaijan called on the international community for urgent support. “We call on the international community to provide political and practical support to resolve this critical issue,” the ministry said.
On April 2, 57-year-old Nuraddin Abbasov was seriously wounded when he stepped on a personnel mine while grazing livestock in the Chamanli village of Aghdam. Abbasov, who was wounded in his leg as a result of the explosion, was immediately hospitalized. Agdam Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation into the incident. While Azerbaijan has demanded Armenia to fully share its mine maps, the safety of the people living in the region continues to be a source of concern due to the risk of mines in uncleared lands.
