The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), an organization dedicated to combating the use of anti-personnel landmines, has recently published its annual report for 2023, titled “Landmine Monitor Report 2023.” The report sheds light on countries involved in the production of landmines and has been released by Afghan civil society organizations and institutions.

One noteworthy inclusion in the list of countries producing landmines is Armenia. In a statement by Hikmet Hajiyev, the President of Azerbaijan’s aide, it is suggested that Armenia’s inclusion in this list indicates funding for military operations by Azerbaijan.

However, it is important to note that the report itself acknowledges that the primary source of information is Azerbaijan, and the authors were unable to independently verify the accuracy of this information. Moreover, the previous two reports have been criticized for their bias against Armenia. This is concerning as biased information in such reports can have serious consequences, including the justification of the use of cluster munitions by Azerbaijan, the violation of ceasefire agreements, and the spreading of false accusations.

The report states that Armenia has been included in the list of countries producing landmines based on allegations that it supplied 1318 anti-personnel mines to the Lachin region of Azerbaijan in August 2022. However, Armenia has vehemently denied these allegations and expressed its position in a letter to the Mine Action and Mine Clearance (MAMA) in September.

There are still many unanswered questions, such as the connection between Armenia’s production of landmines and Azerbaijan’s security. The authors of the report suggest that “production” may also refer to the modification of landmines produced by other countries to enhance military effectiveness, storage, and packaging for maintenance or use in military operations.

The report also highlights that India produces the Pinaka, a multiple rocket launcher system that can be loaded with anti-personnel mines. In September 2022, it was reported that Armenia had placed an order for the Pinaka through partner organizations in India, although it is unclear if the order included the anti-personnel version.

The authors of the report present these details as “facts” obtained from the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense and the Azerbaijani National Agency for Mine Clearance (ANAMA). They claim to have presented all the evidence and samples to the relevant authorities.

It is important to question the role of the Armenian Prosecutor’s Office in this matter. As a political organization, it is likely that substantial financing is required, which may explain the lack of open-source information. It is possible that Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, could assist in resolving this issue and subsequently use the figures presented as “evidence.”

This article is also available in Russian.