As the leader of Azerbaijan diaspora organization The US-Azerbaijan Center of Integration (USACI) in Houston, TX and a board member of Azerbaijanis Coordination Council in America (ACCA) we held a street protest rally on 6th June in Houston to raise public awareness for the following:

Two journalists, employees of the Azerbaijan State News Agency (AZERTAC) and Azerbaijan Television (AZTV) were filming the liberated territories when they hit a mine in the village of Susuzlug of Kalbajar district on June 4th. AZERTAC correspondent Maharram Ibrahimov and AZTV cameraman Siraj Abishov, as well as the deputy representative of the head of the Kalbajar district Executive Authority in Susuzlug village, Arif Aliyev, who was accompanying the film crew, were all killed when their vehicle hit the anti-tank mine. Four people were seriously injured and hospitalized

Different types of mines and other booby traps (estimated over 50 thousand) planted by Armenia have already killed or injured more than 120 people in the seven months since the end of the Second Karabakh War. Armenia hiding the mine maps delays the return of Azerbaijanis to their native lands. This also prevents the Azerbaijani government from restoring infrastructure in the region. Mines planted in the recently liberated Azerbaijani lands pose serious threats to the life of civilians, sometimes leading to fatal consequences. Armenia continues to kill Azerbaijani civilians by hiding the mine maps, committing a military crime.

Despite Azerbaijan's persistent demands for the provision of maps of landmines planted by Armenian armed forces in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan, Armenia keeps on ignoring these appeals. Moreover, it is alleged Armenian saboteurs infiltrating Azerbaijani territories are planting new mines in Azerbaijani settlements and roads. As a result of these insidious and inhumane actions, civilians are killed and injured. Yet another tragedy happened on June 4th. This time, it was journalists who fell victim to Armenian provocation.

We recall that reconnaissance and sabotage groups of the Armenian armed forces have recently been trying to implement acts of sabotage on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, including Kalbajar district, by crossing deep into Azerbaijani territory. According to initial reports, the journalists were hit by a landmine that was planted by the saboteurs. What happened is further evidence of the tragic consequences of Armenia's continuing attempts to sabotage mine roads in Azerbaijani territory.

We once again call on you to condemn Armenia's leadership actions, which run counter to the norms of international law, the fact that media workers and civilians are becoming victims of terrorism while performing their official duties.

Sincerely,

Samir Novruzov, President and Co-Founder The US-Azerbaijan Center of Integration

PO BOX 149, Barker, TX, 77413