Last week, a landmine accident in the Kalbajar region of Azerbaijan, known as Karabakh, killed three civilians – two Azerbaijani journalists, Maharram Ibrahimov and Siraj Abishev, and one local official Arif Aliyev, Brussels Morning reported.
Kalbajar and other provinces from the Nagorno-Karabakh, were given back to Azerbaijan as a part of a Russia-brokered agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan that ended the 44-day war in Karabakh.
According to that agreement, Armenian forces were supposed to leave the region by November 15, 2020. But they did so 10 days later and it is claimed that during this time, the Armenian army heavily mined the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
In a recent interview, one Armenian general also confirmed that he and his contingent placed truckloads of mines near Lachin and Kalbajar during their retreat from the region.
The Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) previously suggested similar claims, noting that the Armenian army was mining almost everywhere to slowdown the advance of the Azerbaijani army.
Landmines are an imminent threat to those living in the region, as well as those returning to it, after the peace deal between the sides.
After the end of the Second Karabakh War last November, more than 120 people have died in the areas evacuated by Armenian forces, resulting in 22 fatalities and 100 live-changing injuries.
