EU issues statement on captives from recent conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan
YEREVAN, April 29, /ARKA/ In a statements issued on behalf of the EU 1402nd meeting of the Committee of Ministers on 28 April 2021, the European Union welcomed the consolidation of the ceasefire on the ground, following the ceasefire agreement reached by the parties on 9 November 2020, and some positive results achieved on issues such as the repatriation of human remains and the provision of humanitarian assistance to populations severely affected by the conflict.
The European Union reiterated, however, that renewed efforts are necessary to build confidence between both countries and make progress towards sustainable peace.
This includes refraining from hostile and offensive rhetoric, finalizing, as soon as possible, the return of all remaining prisoners of war and detained persons, regardless of the circumstances of their arrest, and cooperating also on other important issues such as demining.
'In this context, following the recent notification by the European Court of Human Rights to the Committee of Ministers regarding the interim measures indicated under Rule 39 of the Rules of the Court in relation to the recent armed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, we stress that the Court’s case law has clearly established that States Parties to the European Convention on Human Rights are under an obligation to comply with interim measures and we call on Azerbaijan to provide the outstanding information requested by the Court.'
The following countries align with this statement: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, Republic of North Macedonia, Norway and San Marino
On March 9, the European Court of Human Rights, based on the numerous applications of the Armenian representative to the ECHR, as well as the fact that the Azerbaijani government repeatedly violated the deadlines set by the European Court and failed to provide complete information, made a decision to notify the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on the issue of violations of the rights of Armenian civilians and prisoners of war held by Azerbaijan.
The decisions of the European Court of Human Rights regarding the application of an interim measure against Azerbaijan regarding prisoners of war are still in force. With the interim measures, the European Court ordered Azerbaijan to provide information on the conditions of detention of the detainees, their state of health, as well as the measures taken to return them.
The number of Armenian POWs still in custody in Azerbaijan remains unclear. By the end of February 2021, Armenia’s Representative Office at the European Court of Human Rights had asked the court to intervene with Azerbaijan regarding 240 cases of alleged prisoners of war and civilian detainees. In approximately 90 percent of those cases, the office said, they had provided photo and/or video evidence confirming that Azerbaijani forces had taken these people into custody.
Armenia’s leadership said that Azerbaijan has returned 69 POWs and civilians. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that his government has returned all the POWs to Armenia but was still holding approximately 60 people as terrorism suspects. Human Rights Watch is not in a position to verify the claims by Azerbaijan or Armenia about the numbers of people remaining in custody or their status. -0-
