Results of Interrogations of Armenian Prisoners Cannot Serve as Basis for Prosecution

The Human Rights Defender of Armenia has published a new urgent report stating that the results of interrogations of Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan cannot serve as a basis for criminal prosecution and cannot be considered evidence in international, including judicial instances.

“The report addresses the treatment of prisoners, both military personnel and civilians, in Azerbaijan. The report emphasizes the interrogations of these prisoners, concluding that the information expressed by Armenian prisoners cannot serve as grounds for their criminal prosecution and also cannot have any evidentiary significance in international institutions.

In particular, the urgent report details the atrocities of the Azerbaijani armed forces, which included the torture of Armenian prisoners, coercive actions, humiliation, and more. These facts are based on the evidence and analyses presented in the report, which once again confirms the use of methods prohibited by absolute international requirements against Armenian prisoners by the Azerbaijani armed forces.

The assessments in the report are also based on the own fact-finding efforts of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia. Additionally, international requirements and legal standards regarding the treatment of prisoners of war and civilians and their interrogation have been studied, along with objective evidence and other materials.

The urgent report, signed by me, will be sent tomorrow to international organizations, including the European Court of Human Rights,” Arman Tatoyan wrote on his Facebook page, expressing gratitude to human rights defender Siranush Sahakyan for her collaboration in preparing the report and analyzing the evidence.