Armenian Journalists Union calls for international response to Azerbaijani violence against journalists in Nagorno-Karabakh

The Armenian Journalists' Union issued a call upon the international human rights and media organization, urging them to give their evaluation to Azerbaijan's targeted attacks against local and international journalists in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh). 

Its statement, calling for an adequate reaction to the reported violence, is provided below: 

On October 1st, Azerbaijan's fifth day of the war with clear support from Turkey against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and Armenia, Azerbaijani Armed Forces in Artsakh targeted journalists in the exercise of their professional function.

Consequently:

1 In Martuni City, Artsakh, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces bombarded daily Le Monde journalists and accompanying staff. Because of the bombing, the two journalists in Le Monde were seriously injured and the accompanying person, a resident of Martuni City, was killed. French President Emanuel Macron mentioned the incident.

2. During the coverage of hostilities, the shooting crew of Armenian TV 'ZHAM' Z TV news agency ′′ Armenia ′′ was also attacked. Operator was injured.

3. Armenian online TV channel journalist 24 News. am was also attacked by targeted Azerbaijani bombardments against the journalist squad in Martuni.

4. On the same day, the deputy editor of Russian television ′′ Doždʹ "/ Dozhd was also bombarded.

5. The five-member Armenian magazine 'CivilNet' filming crew was bombarded in Martuni City.

6. The Azerbaijani Armed Forces have also targeted a car carrying journalists to the international news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP), which performs a journalistic mission in Artsakh.

Journalists injured in Azerbaijani attacks receive medical care including complex surgical procedures.

The October 1st attacks represent the continuity of attacks from previous days, as follows:

1 On September 28, a drone targeted Armenian press teams Shant TV and Tert. am ", especially journalists and operator.

The Azerbaijani Armed Forces are targeting not only the civilians of Artsakh, but also the journalists who perform their professional mission in the war zone. In addition, this is done on purpose, as all journalists are working with PRESS emblems, which, however, does not prevent the Azerbaijani army from bombing them. This raises reasonable suspicions that Azerbaijan is deliberately targeting journalists, to prevent the transmission of actual war information to the international community. Azerbaijan's actions are in violation of many international conventions and agreements, which must be properly assessed by the competent structures.

Armenia's Union of Journalists calls on all journalistic organizations and human rights organizations around the world have adequate action to Azerbaijan's reprehensible actions against journalists, demanding to guarantee the international standard of maintaining neutrality to the concerning journalists covering hostilities.