Human Rights Defender Presents Issues on Immediate Return of Prisoners and Border Determination Process with Azerbaijan to French Ambassador

The Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan, met with Jonathan Lacote, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of France to Armenia, on January 21. During the meeting, Tatoyan prioritized the rights of Armenian servicemen and civilians held captive in Azerbaijan and raised issues related to their immediate return.

He emphasized that the return or release of prisoners should be viewed exclusively within the framework of human rights or humanitarian processes, as an international requirement for automatic action.

Tatoyan informed the ambassador that Azerbaijani authorities are artificially prolonging the process of returning Armenian captives, both during and after military operations.

The Human Rights Defender also addressed the issue of determining or adjusting the borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan, noting that it is accompanied by gross violations of the rule of law and human rights.

A key factor is that this process takes place amid overt threats of war directed by Azerbaijan at the Armenian population, as well as genocidal rhetoric. Furthermore, this is not only not ceasing but is also evolving into new developments of hatred and animosity against Armenians.

Therefore, it lacks legitimacy and must be urgently stopped or revised. He further highlighted that such approaches to boundary determination would not contribute to peaceful coexistence among peoples in the region but would also create fertile ground for the ongoing hatred and animosity in Azerbaijan, along with its dangerous manifestations.

During the meeting, the parties also discussed other issues related to human rights.