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The entire villages of Nerkin Hand and Srashen in Kapan, a community in Armenia’s Syunik Province, are visually observed by Azerbaijani forces following the mid-September aggression, former Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan, head of the Tatoyan Foundation for Law and Justice, told a news conference on Thursday.

Residential buildings, roads, pastures and arable lands in the villages can be easily targeted by the Azerbaijani military, he said, summing up his team’s fact-finding mission in Syunik and Vayots Dzor Provinces following the Azerbaijani attacks on 13-14 September.

He said the Azerbaijani military seized more positions near Nerkin Hand, being stationed in close proximity to the village school and cemetery.

“The local residents cannot visit the graves of their relatives. Moreover, water supply to Nerkin Hand was cut off due to the actions of Azerbaijanis as the drinking water sources of the village fell under their control,” Tatoyan said, adding water supply to the village has been restored.

Women and children were forced to leave the village following the Azeri aggression. Those who stayed cannot engage in cattle breeding. Recently, three cows owned by Nerkin Hand residents were killed in a mine blast, the ex-ombudsman said.

“Azerbaijanis must leave not only the occupied territories of Armenia but also the disputed territories. As a result of their presence and actions, people suffer great losses,” he said.

"As a result of Azerbaijani attacks and invasion on September 13-14 this year, 2,700 hectares of land have been occupied in Kapan alone. They include 2,400 hectares of specially protected areas, 170 hectares of forests and 130 hectares of community land,” Tatoyan stressed.