Arman Tatoyan Believes It Was a Mistake to Transfer Guliyev and Askeryan to Azerbaijan

The Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan, will release a new urgent report regarding prisoners tomorrow. During a press conference held today, Tatoyan revealed some of the key points that will be included in the report.

“Recently, Azerbaijan has been pursuing a policy whereby it initiates criminal cases against elderly prisoners who also participated in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. With this urgent report, I need to call on international organizations not to consider the testimonies given by our aforementioned prisoners under torture and pressure as valid,” said Tatoyan.

Addressing the topic of prisoner exchanges, he mentioned that while parties may make certain changes regarding territorial issues within the framework of the trilateral statement, nothing can change regarding the issues of prisoners. Tatoyan noted that Azerbaijan is violating all norms, for example, by taking 62 soldiers captive from Shiraz and presenting them as terrorists after declaring a ceasefire.

Moreover, how is it possible that Armenia transferred Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilham Askeryan to Azerbaijan, who were convicted in Nagorno-Karabakh for diversions, the murder of a minor, and of an Armenian soldier, while Azerbaijan is not planning to return the Shiraz captives? The Human Rights Defender believes that it was indeed a mistake to transfer Guliyev and Askeryan to Azerbaijan.

When asked if Tatoyan is ready to meet with his Azerbaijani counterpart to raise these issues, the Human Rights Defender of Armenia stated that he has no complex about this matter. “If there is a desire, I am ready to meet with Azerbaijan’s Commissioner for Human Rights. However, if it pertains to human rights protection, the Human Rights Defender of Artsakh should be present. But the issue is that in May 2020, when I positively responded to a meeting with Sabina Aliyeva, she replied that she would consider meeting me only if I convince our government about the de-occupation of territories,” said Tatoyan.

He added that he is currently working with Aliyeva through international organizations. Tatoyan concluded his remarks by stating that engaging in human rights protection does not mean that he should meet with Aliyeva at the expense of personal or national dignity.

It is noteworthy that on January 9 and 10, 2021, the Director of the National Security Service of Armenia, Armen Abazyan, had working meetings with the Director of Azerbaijan's State Security Service, Ali Nagiyev.