David Babayan Sends Letters to International Organizations Regarding Armenian Prisoners Held by Azerbaijan

On January 12, David Babayan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh, sent letters to specialized bodies of the UN and the Council of Europe, as well as to the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and the personal representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, concerning the situation of Armenian servicemen and civilians illegally held by Azerbaijan. This information was reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh.

The letters specifically mention that Azerbaijan, violating the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, made by the leaders of Armenia, Russia, and Azerbaijan, attacked and occupied the villages of Khtsaberd and Hin Tagher in the Hadrut region of the Republic of Artsakh in December 2020 and took captive 64 servicemen of the Defense Army of Artsakh. Subsequently, Azerbaijani authorities announced their intention to initiate criminal cases against these prisoners of war, which is a gross violation of international humanitarian law.

The letters emphasize that international humanitarian law, particularly the Geneva Conventions, continues to apply even after the signing of a ceasefire declaration; therefore, the captured servicemen are considered prisoners of war under Article 4 of the Third Geneva Convention concerning the treatment of prisoners of war and must be repatriated following the cessation of hostilities. Azerbaijan's prosecution of these prisoners of war solely for their participation in military actions is a grave violation of the Third Geneva Convention.

The letters also state that Azerbaijan is delaying the return of other servicemen and civilians held in its custody, who were captured during Azerbaijan's armed aggression against the Republic of Artsakh, which began on September 27, 2020, and continued thereafter. It is highlighted that Azerbaijan's position contradicts its own commitments to fully implement the trilateral statement in letter and in spirit, aimed at healing the scars left by the bloody conflict.

The Foreign Minister of the Republic of Artsakh calls for urgent measures to be taken to ensure the implementation of the Geneva Conventions by Azerbaijan and compliance with its commitments under the mentioned agreements, with the goal of safeguarding the rights of all prisoners of war and civilians held by it.