Ombudsman: Azerbaijani forces killed Artsakh civilian

According to confirmed reports, Azerbaijani forces have killed the 65-year-old Artsakh civilian, who got lost earlier on Friday and accidentally crossed into Azerbaijani-held territory, Artsakh’s Human Rights Ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan said.

The man, identified only by initials as S.S., was a resident of Chartar, a town in the Martuni region.

He was reported missing to the National Security Service at around 1pm.

Stepanyan said the man was a shepherd.

“His murder is part of Azerbaijan's criminal-terrorist acts, as well as its policy of massive and systematic persecution of Armenians,” the ombudsman wrote on Facebook.

“The Azerbaijani combat positions near peaceful settlements pose a direct and undeniable threat to the right to life, physical and mental integrity of the peaceful population of Artsakh,” he stated.