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Videos began circulating today which showed the apparent capture and execution of Armenian soldiers.
Despite claims these videos were staged, we have verified them. We believe they show the summary execution of 2 detainees by Azerbaijani soldiers. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/rest-of-world/2020/10/15/an-execution-in-hadrut-karabakh/
Despite claims these videos were staged, we have verified them. We believe they show the summary execution of 2 detainees by Azerbaijani soldiers. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/rest-of-world/2020/10/15/an-execution-in-hadrut-karabakh/
The first video shows two men, one middle aged, one obviously old, being detained by soldiers. They are both wearing camouflage, suggesting they were combatants.
The soldiers speak Russian to their detainees, but Azerbaijani to each other.
The soldiers speak Russian to their detainees, but Azerbaijani to each other.
The second video shows the summary execution of two men.
Their clothing matches that of the detainees seen in the first video.
The video is entirely consistent people being shot by small arms.
Their clothing matches that of the detainees seen in the first video.
The video is entirely consistent people being shot by small arms.
The detainees were detained on the north edge of the town and then transported south, towards Azerbaijani territory.
Azerbaijan has claimed to control the town of Hadrut since Oct 9th, although this has been contested by Armenia.
Azerbaijan has claimed to control the town of Hadrut since Oct 9th, although this has been contested by Armenia.
Today some channels even posted an unrelated video from Azerbaijani troops driving past the park where this execution took place. https://twitter.com/ryanmofarrell/status/1316832619552813067?s=20
At least one of the soldiers in the first video is wearing a Gentex-style helmet, which is not usually used by regular Azerbaijani soldiers.
However, we do know that Azerbaijani special forces use this kind of helmet.
https://www.azernews.az/nation/164887.html
However, we do know that Azerbaijani special forces use this kind of helmet.
https://www.azernews.az/nation/164887.html
There has clearly been a huge push to claim these videos are fake. One popular claim is that because 1 soldier was wearing a red armband they were Armenian.
This is rather undermined by the Azerbaijani MoD having released images of one of its own soldiers wearing a red arm band.
This is rather undermined by the Azerbaijani MoD having released images of one of its own soldiers wearing a red arm band.
These two videos strongly indicate that Azerbaijani soldiers, possibly special forces, summarily executed two Armenian men between 9-15th October.
Claims that these videos are “faked” or “staged” are not supported by the open source evidence. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/rest-of-world/2020/10/15/an-execution-in-hadrut-karabakh/
Claims that these videos are “faked” or “staged” are not supported by the open source evidence. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/rest-of-world/2020/10/15/an-execution-in-hadrut-karabakh/
