The Azerbaijani authorities have committed crimes against humanity during the Covid-19 pandemic by launching large-scale attacks against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and Armenia, Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan said Monday, March 15.

Tatoyan said his office has published a new special report on the matter, which cited concrete examples and expert analysis on "the crimes committed against humanity by Azerbaijan in the context of a man-made disaster” during the Covid-19 humanitarian disaster.

"According to the report, despite the statements of the UN Secretary General that the Covid-19 crisis should compel the cessation of hostilities in all situations, the start of the war by the Azerbaijani authorities in September-November 2020 endangered the lives of the entire population of Artsakh and their health, and intentionally caused death and suffering. It also significantly contributed to the increase in deaths in Armenia," Tatoyan said.

"All of this has been achieved by causing the acceleration and the rapid spread of the deadly virus, and by bringing about the fatal collapse of the healthcare system.

In the period from March 1 to September 26, 49,400 cases of Covid-19 were registered, while during the war, from September 27 to November 9, that number reached 59,287.mIn terms of mortality, 951 deaths were reported in the seven months before the war, compared with 658 during the war.

"These facts once again prove the assertions of the Human Rights Defender, that the Azerbaijani authorities should be held accountable for war crimes, as impunity breeds new and more heinous crimes," Tatoyan added.