Baku says Armenia’s landmines killed 3,385 Azerbaijani people in 3 decades

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AA) – Azerbaijan’s presidential adviser has stated that 3,385 Azerbaijani people have died due to landmines planted by Armenia since 1991.

Hikmet Hajiyev shared details about the loss of lives due to landmines laid by Armenia within Azerbaijani territory, both during the occupation of Azerbaijani lands and in the aftermath of the Second Karabakh War.

Fifty-five Azerbaijani people lost their lives in blasts caused by mines laid by Armenia since the end of the Second Karabakh War on November 10, 2020, Hajiyev said on social media platform X. He added that 251 others were injured. Among those killed were 42 civilians and 13 soldiers, he also said.

“Terrifying figures of Armenia’s systematic and deliberate landmine terror policy against Azerbaijan. Since 1991 up today, 3,385 Azerbaijanis have become victims of landmines infested by Armenia. Armenia and illegal puppet junta regime continues to implant landmines produced in Armenia along the whole perimeters of ‘grey zone’,” he wrote.

Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have been tense since 1991 when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

Tensions between the two nations, however, continue despite ongoing talks over a long-term peace agreement.