Please Be Responsible: Vardanyan Addresses Azerbaijani Official at PACE

At the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Vladimir Vardanyan, a member of the Armenian delegation, urged Azerbaijan to demonstrate responsibility, comply with the norms of the Geneva Conventions, and return Armenian prisoners of war. In his speech, he responded to the statement made by Azerbaijani MP Samad Seyidov, who claimed that one of the only responsible NGOs in Azerbaijan is the International Committee of the Red Cross.

“Mr. Seyidov, have you asked whether the Azerbaijani authorities are displaying responsible behavior according to the ICRC? I would like to emphasize that the ICRC is not just an NGO; it is an organization that has been actively engaged in the protection of war victims and addressing many other issues for more than a century and a half. And when talking about the ICRC, we must not forget that it is not only a non-governmental organization but also an entity representing patron states and endowed with a Geneva mandate. I urge you, Mr. Seyidov, to be responsible and fulfill your international obligations. I hope that one day, in some way, your country will demonstrate responsible behavior on this issue. Thank you,” Vardanyan stated.