Armenia occupied the mountainous part of the Karabakh the economic zone of Azerbaijan and 7 surrounding administrative territories in 1990-1994, deported about 800,000 Azerbaijanis and non-Armenians from those territories, committed genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes against the civilian population.

For almost 30 years, Armenia has ignored four UN Security Council resolutions on the immediate evacuation of the occupied territories by the armed forces of this country, and has not complied with the requirements of the resolutions.

The armed forces of Armenia and the so-called executive body established in the occupied territories have continued their war crimes in the occupied territories for about 30 years, all cultural, religious, historical, and even geographical monuments belonging to Azerbaijan, have been completely destroyed. More than 80 mosques and churches were destroyed, pigs and cattle were kept in mosques. The Azerbaijani population living near the frontline was deprived of water sources, forests were cut down and natural resources were looted. All towns, villages, settlements, and infrastructure in the occupied territories were completely destroyed and demolished.

One of the biggest war crimes committed by the Armenian occupation forces is  the placement of millions of infantry and anti-tank mines in the occupied territories. For almost 30 years, areas occupied by Armenia have been mined.

The horrors of the occupation are becoming more apparent after the 44-days Patriotic War in 2020, which began in response to another armed provocation of Armenia and ended with the victory of Azerbaijan.

There is a serious mine threat in more than 10,000 square meters area at present. Since November 10, about 100 people have been injured and more than 20 of them have died as a result of mine explosions. Most of the dead and injured were civilians, including women and children.

At present, the Azerbaijani government demines the area from mines and unexploded ordnance. However, Armenia resolutely refuses to provide Azerbaijan with maps of mined areas in gross violation of the principles of international humanitarian law and thus continues to violate the terms of the tripartite agreement of November 10, 2020. Armenia, by ignoring all international norms, including the Ottawa Convention, thus continues the war against Azerbaijan with the use of mines. Under a tripartite agreement, Armenia planted tens of thousands of new mines using special equipment in the period and extra time given to the Armenian armed forces to leave the territories and then left the territories with large fires and destruction.

As members of the Public Council under the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs and heads of specialized NGOs, we appeal to the world community and international human rights organizations on April 4, International Mine Action Day, to condemn Armenia's actions in violation of non-humanitarian and international humanitarian law. We condemn the failure to provide the map of the minefields to the Azerbaijani side and call on to consider the action of Armenia as another crime against humanity.

The statement was adopted on April 4, 2021, by the Public Council under SCFWCA.