Mine threats remain for residents of Karabakh outside villages

The villages of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, where residents are returning, have been completely cleared of mines, but dangerous zones remain outside populated areas, where violations of safety regulations lead to incidents. Experts say that complete demining of the former conflict zone could take many years.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on May 11, two Azerbaijani army servicemen were blown up by a mine in the Kelbajar region and were hospitalized with injuries.

Before residents returned to the village of Khidirli in the Aghdam district, representatives of the State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons of Azerbaijan informed people about the need to observe mine safety regulations, Rasim Mirzoyev, a resident of the village, told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The first briefing, according to him, was conducted in Baku, before arriving in the village. "We were told that our village and the lands adjacent to it had been completely cleared of mines, but there were dangers beyond their boundaries, and therefore we must adhere to safety regulations and avoid entering areas marked with special signs. When we returned to Khidirli, representatives of ANAMA (the Azerbaijani Agency for Mine Action), local authorities, and the police also met with us and told us not to enter areas marked with mine hazard signs. There are no such signs near our village, as the area is considered cleared, but such signs are found in some places along the roads," the man said.

Before returning, internally displaced persons from the village of Saryjaly in the Agdam district were also assured that the area in and around the village had been completely cleared of mines, said local resident Sakina Mamedova.

“Thank God, we haven't had any such incidents in our village, but we know that there are still many areas in Karabakh that haven't been cleared of mines. There are many mine hazard signs near settlements that haven't been rebuilt yet. There are also fenced-off areas. It all depends on the people themselves: if a person is responsible and cares for their health, they will never break the rules; it will only harm them. We especially care for children: we warn them that if there is a mine hazard sign anywhere, they must not enter it. They also receive educational events at school,” she told a Caucasian Knot correspondent.

Ilyas Akhmedov, a resident of the village of Khorovlu in the Jabrayil district, was also warned about the mine hazard before returning to his village.

“Before returning us to the village, we were given an explanatory note. We were told that we were safe in Khorovlu itself and the surrounding area, but the region was contaminated with mines. We were strictly warned: do not go beyond the fences, do not touch suspicious objects, and do not leave the roads and paths. We were given similar information in the village itself, and were also given books with pictures explaining the danger signs,” Akhmedov said.

The population is returning to villages that have been completely cleared of mines, confirmed the head of a pro-government NGO involved in educational projects in Karabakh. "Before villages are restored, their territories are cleared of mines. Areas adjacent to the villages are also cleared: arable land, pastures, cemeteries, roads. And only then are the people returned," the activist told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. Hundreds of kilometers along the former front line are contaminated with mines. According to him, the most dangerous areas are along the line of contact between troops, which existed from 1994 to 2020.

“This line stretches for hundreds of kilometers, from the Goranboy district in the north to the Fizuli district in the south. In many places, sections have been cleared of mines, but large areas remain uncontaminated. In some places, fences made of metal mesh and gratings have even been erected. Unfortunately, some irresponsible people neglect safety precautions, and some even cut up the mesh and gratings to sell as scrap metal. These people often stumble upon mines. Mine explosions also sometimes occur because people grazing livestock enter areas that haven't been cleared of mines. Sometimes, people along roads enter dangerous areas while captivated by the beautiful scenery,” the activist said.

Government agencies are making efforts to prevent people from being blown up by mines, he noted. "You can't just enter the liberated territories; you have to register on the government portal. This allows us to regulate and control the flow of people. Furthermore, all visitors are instructed and warned about the need to follow mine hazard signs. Furthermore, police officers, and sometimes military personnel, patrol the roads and grounds, driving violators away from dangerous areas. Those who maliciously violate the rules can be subject to administrative fines or arrest. The most dangerous areas are cordoned off with metal mesh, bars, and tape. But you can't assign a police officer to every person—there are still people who disregard their own safety and life, posing a threat to the health and lives of others," the activist explained.

ANAMA staff have maps of potentially mine-contaminated areas and areas cleared of mines. "Mine clearance work will continue for many years, if not decades, to come. The territory of Karabakh was literally riddled with mines. The most contaminated areas were along the line of contact between the troops, which was changed after 2020, and the new line was also mined. Furthermore, in 2020, Armenian troops laid mines wherever they could find them as they withdrew. Furthermore, numerous unexploded ordnances remain from the two Karabakh wars and separate military escalations; they are also potential sources of threats. If you look at it this way, virtually all of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur are potentially dangerous territories, with the exception of dense forests and highlands where people rarely appear," the source noted.

Right to Compensation for Mine Incidents

Civilians are not entitled to compensation for mine accidents, the activist noted. "The victim or his successor can seek this through the courts if they believe they were victims through no fault of their own. I know of one case where a former intelligence officer, killed in a mine explosion after the war, when he was already a civilian, was granted martyr status by the court. His heirs were paid compensation as for a fallen soldier – 11,000 manat (approximately $6,500 US). In general, the state is returning people to demined settlements," he concluded.

Internally displaced persons are returning only to areas cleared of mines, and the state is only responsible for incidents that occur in such areas, said Telman Abilov, head of the NGO "Military Lawyers." Victims can seek compensation if the incident occurred in an area that was considered completely cleared of mines; If the incident occurred in an undemined area, where a person entered voluntarily, ignoring warning signs, the state bears no liability.

“But even in this case, if the explosion left the victim disabled, they can claim disability benefits on the same basis as all categories. If the victim believes there were no warning signs, they can sue for compensation, or their successor can claim compensation for the loss of a relative. In this case, they must prove that the area was officially declared safe but was not actually demined, there were no warning signs, or demining or safety regulations were violated,” Abilov told the Caucasian Knot.

The life and health of people injured by mines while on duty are insured by the state, the lawyer emphasized. He also noted that Azerbaijan now provides a special pension for family members of sappers killed during mine clearance operations.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree establishing a special pension for family members of sappers killed during mine clearance operations on March 31, Report.az reported. According to the document, the monthly pension is 700 manat (approximately $412).

Widows, widowers, parents, and children of sappers who died as a result of the detonation of explosive ordnance during mine clearance operations are eligible for this pension. Children of the deceased are paid the pension until they reach adulthood, and students receive the pension until they reach 23. Payments are also provided to children with disabilities diagnosed before age 18, as well as to siblings raised in orphanages. If there are no first-degree relatives, the pension will be paid to the grandparents of the deceased sapper.

ANAMA representatives were unavailable for comment.