Azerbaijan holds at least 33 Armenian captives captive: ombudswoman presents situation

YEREVAN, December 16. /ARKA/. In a blatant violation of the international humanitarian and other laws, Azerbaijan continues to hold captive 33 Armenian prisoners whose captivity is confirmed, Armenian Human Rights Defender Kristine Grigoryan said.

She told Armenpress that the issue of protecting their rights and returning them as soon as possible is regularly raised during her meetings and discussions with international partners and foreign diplomats.

"International partners are called upon to use all the necessary instruments to ensure their right to life, absolute prohibition of torture, force Azerbaijan to comply with international human rights and humanitarian laws and return them home. In addition, regular meetings and conversations are held with the relatives of the captives regarding their rights, social assistance and other issues," Grigoryan said.

She said employees of her Office had private conversations with 17 Armenian prisoners of war who were captured by the Azerbaijani armed forces on September 13, 2022 and were repatriated recently.

She said all the information about their torture, ill treatment and other cruel treatment has been combined with other information, including videos made by Azerbaijanis, photos, reports and are included in an ad hoc non-public report entitled “Cruel treatment and torture against Armenian captives as a manifestation of anti-Armenian policy of Azerbaijan”.

Grigoryan said given that the report contains descriptions and photos of inhumane, ill treatment against the Armenian prisoners of war, desecration of the bodies of the fallen Armenian servicemen, it is presented in a closed format taking into account the sensitivity of the topic, the nature of photos and videos.

The report will be sent to foreign ambassadors accredited in Armenia, international organizations and top Armenian officials. -0-