The Armenian Foreign Ministry has expressed deep concern over the mock trials of 23 Armenian prisoners of war, hostages and other detainees in Baku.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia continues to draw the attention of the international community, particularly partners interested in peace in the region and emphasizing humanitarian values, to the issue of the release of Armenian prisoners of war, hostages and other detainees held in Azerbaijan, as well as the mock trials being conducted against some of them with gross procedural violations and blatant signs of torture,” the Ministry said in a statement.
“The publications, including video recordings and photos from the “trials” of 23 Armenian prisoners of war, hostages and other detainees, as well as the information made public by the lawyers of the aforementioned persons, including Ruben Vardanyan, who is on a hunger strike, about the pressure on the detainees, torture and the obvious deterioration of their health condition, are of deep concern,” it added.
The Foreign Ministry emphasized that such a practice is also evidenced by the concerns expressed by the UN Committee against Torture, the cases of torture of Armenian prisoners of war documented by Human Rights Watch and other organizations, as well as the systematic avoidance of cooperation by the Azerbaijani authorities with international organizations, including the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
“Armenian prisoners of war, hostages and other detainees are being illegally held in Azerbaijan, despite its commitments and international obligations. The detention and persecution of Armenian prisoners of war, hostages and other detainees is a gross violation of international humanitarian law and fundamental human rights. A simple list of relevant international multilateral documents includes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949), and the European Convention on Human Rights,” the Ministry stated.
“It is obvious that the Azerbaijani authorities are using this judicial staging as a tool for political pressure on the Republic of Armenia and manipulation among society, taking into account the sensitivity of the issue for each family member and the entire society,” it added.
It drew attention to the fact that these processes are taking place in the context of continuous propaganda of ethnic hatred against Armenians in the Azerbaijani media.
“First and foremost, a comprehensive settlement of any conflict involves the preparation of peoples for peace, and additional and artificial prolongation of unresolved humanitarian issues does not serve this purpose and only reduces its likelihood. This realization has been repeatedly emphasized during discussions with Azerbaijan, as well as on various international platforms, by partners and structures. We expect that in the perceptions of the Azerbaijani authorities it will also prevail over the continuous nurturing of hostility and short-term calculations,” the statement reads.
“In the context of the refusal to finally address the issue, Armenia cannot remain uninvolved and indifferent, therefore it will continue to raise it at various levels and formats, expecting solutions and positive progress,” the Ministry concluded.
