The Azerbaijani military on Sunday, August 29 maliciously set fire to areas near the villages of Sotk and Kut in Armenia's Gegharkunik province, Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan said on social media.

Fires approaching the village of Sotk were extinguished, while whose near Kut began to spread due to the wind, Tatoyan noted, also publishing photographs and videos showing the situation on the ground.

“I want to emphasize that there were pastures and meadows in these areas, which have now been destroyed by fires. Considering that the Azerbaijani armed forces have invaded and are in the immediate vicinity of the villages, on the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia, the fires pose a real threat to the civilian population,” Tatoyan said.

According to him, signals coming from local residents leave no doubt about the deliberate and criminal nature of the actions of the Azerbaijani side. First, he said, the Azerbaijani military is well aware that they are stationed in pastures and meadows, as well as arable land owned by civilians. Local residents cannot use the territories near the Azerbaijani positions because the Azeris open fire no matter what. Second, Tatoyan added, they also understand that fires spread quickly, also destroying property and territory belonging to the civilians.