Two civilians wounded in mine blast in Tartar

By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

Two Azerbaijani civilians have been wounded in a mine blast in Tartar region's Chayli village, Trend reported on February 18, citing Azerbaijan's Mine Action Agency (ANAMA).

The explosion occurred in an area where demining activities had not yet been carried out, the report added.

The employees of Road Maintenance Department No 42  under the Azerbaijani State Agency of  Automobile Roads - Alishan Safarov (59) and Faig Safarov (57) received various injuries as a result of the blast, the Tartar region prosecutor's office said.

The victims were immediately hospitalized. The scene of the incident was inspected, a forensic medical examination was scheduled, and other procedural actions were taken.

After receiving first aid, one of the two people wounded in the explosion went home, according to the Tartar District Central Hospital.

Another person is being treated by doctors, and his condition is reported to be stable.

In an address to the 6th Eastern Partnership Summit of the European Union held in Brussels on December 15, 2021, President Ilham Aliyev said that about 200 people had been killed or injured in mine explosions to that date. In this regard, he stressed the importance of the European Union and member states providing technical and financial assistance to Azerbaijan to eliminate the mine problem.

Armenia deliberately and constantly planted mines on Azerbaijani territories, in violation of the 1949 Geneva Convention, thereby being a major threat to regional peace, security, and cooperation.

On June 12, 2021, Azerbaijan handed over 15 Armenian prisoners in exchange for a map detailing the location of 97,000 mines in Aghdam.

On July 3, 2021, Armenia submitted to Azerbaijan maps of about 92,000 anti-tank and anti-personnel mines planted during the occupation of Fuzuli and Zangilan regions.

Yerevan submitted to Baku all mine maps of Azerbaijan's liberated territories as a result of talks through Russia's mediation on December 4, 2021. The accuracy of the maps is still to be checked.

Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a Russia-brokered peace agreement on November 10, 2020, to end 44 days of fighting and work toward a comprehensive resolution.