In order to investigate the circumstances of the aggressive war unleashed against the Republic of Artsakh by the armed forces of Azerbaijan from September 27, 2020, coupled with gross violations of international humanitarian law, a number of criminal cases were initiated by the law enforcement bodies of the Republic of Artsakh, within the framework of which the preliminary investigation body seized many unexploded shells and projectiles, examinations were appointed.
As reported by the Artsakh prosecutor’s office, the unexploded rocket found in the administrative area of Martuni city of Artsakh and the samples obtained from it were also submitted for examination by the investigator of the Investigative Committee. According to the conclusion given as a result of the research carried out by an independent expert group (the conclusion was received on 07.12.2022), it was proved that it is a phosphorus munition consisting of white phosphorus.
The whole process of detection, neutralization, and sampling of munitions was carried out with the participation of specialists, with a fixed video recording, the subject of research, and examination materials can be submitted to the research of international experts if necessary.
Thus, according to the results of the expert research, it was confirmed that in 2020 during the 44-day war, the armed forces of Azerbaijan directly targeted the settlements where the civilian population was with chemical weapons, causing mass destruction and a large number of human losses, suffering and damage (a number of videos testifying to the use of chemical weapons were published during the war and after). In this way, Azerbaijan grossly violated Article 35 of the Geneva Convention (Protocol 1), according to which
1. In case of any armed conflict, the right of the conflicting parties to choose methods and means of warfare is not unlimited.
2. It is forbidden to use such weapons, projectiles, materials, as well as such methods of warfare that can cause excessive damage or excessive suffering.
3. It is forbidden to use such methods or means of warfare that are intended to cause, or can be assumed to cause, large-scale, lasting, and serious damage to the environment.
