Tartar district was rocked by tragedy on May 21st as a mine explosion claimed the life of Hajiyev Arzu Najaf oglu, born in 1965. The incident occurred in Hasangaya village, where he fell victim to a landmine while grazing animals in an area yet to be cleared of mines, near the former contact line. Despite efforts to save him, Arzu succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Umud Mirzayev, President of the International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF), addressed the ongoing scourge of mine incidents in a statement to Ednews. He highlighted the frequency of such tragedies, emphasizing the need for caution:
"Our community continues to suffer losses due to mine incidents, with reports of explosions almost daily. The recent incident in Hasangaya village has deeply saddened us. This settlement stands as one of the most heavily mine-affected areas in Karabakh today. Virtually every household here has been touched by the devastation of landmines, with one or two family members falling victim to their indiscriminate threat. Just days before this tragic incident, I was in the vicinity conducting educational outreach on mine awareness. It's imperative that our people exercise utmost caution, as negligence can lead to perilous consequences when venturing into uncleared minefields. Educational signage regarding landmines can be found along roadsides and in residential areas across Karabakh."
Mr. Mirzayev condemned the widespread deployment of mines by Armenia as a crime against humanity:
"Armenia ranks among the world's leading producers of landmines. The deliberate acts of vandalism perpetrated by Armenia in Karabakh are beyond comprehension. While mines may be employed in warfare to deter military advances, their use against civilian populations constitutes nothing short of a heinous crime. Armenians have indiscriminately littered our lands with mines, placing them in water basins, cemeteries, roadsides, and residential areas, leaving a trail of destruction and despair. This is nothing less than terrorism, a grave violation of human rights. Azerbaijan bears the brunt of this menace, with vast swathes of our territory contaminated by these insidious devices. Despite efforts towards peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, there are still nefarious elements seeking to undermine and impede progress on all fronts."
