Urgency of Prisoner Return Discussed by Human Rights Defender with Armenian Assembly Delegation in Egypt

The Human Rights Defender of Armenia presented the war crimes committed by the Azerbaijani side and the urgency of prisoner return to the delegation headed by the leader of the Armenian Assembly in Egypt. This was reported on the official Facebook page of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia.

“Today, the Human Rights Defender received a delegation visiting from Armenia, led by Armen Mazloumian, head of the Armenian Assembly in Egypt. The delegation included a former member of the Egyptian Parliament, representatives of prominent media outlets, and human rights defenders.

Arman Tatoyan discussed the war crimes committed by the Azerbaijani armed forces during the war in Artsakh in November-December 2020 and elaborated on the urgency of returning Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan. He noted that the Azerbaijani authorities' treatment violates international demands by classifying prisoners as 'terrorists' or 'saboteurs.'

The Defender emphasized that all military personnel and civilians from Armenia were captured under ongoing armed conflict conditions by Azerbaijani armed forces, thus all of them have the status of prisoners of war and must be immediately released and returned home without any political or other preconditions.

The Azerbaijani authorities are artificially delaying the process and politicizing it, grossly violating the rights of prisoners and their families, causing them suffering, and creating societal tension.

Arman Tatoyan condemned the opening of the so-called 'exhibition-park' in Baku regarding the war in September-November 2020, viewing it as evidence of state-supported anti-Armenian sentiment and Azerbaijani genocidal policies.

The Defender drew attention to the fact that mannequins of Armenian soldiers in that park are displayed in humiliating conditions, and that the park is also open to children.

He presented evidence of how hatred towards Armenians and crimes against Armenians is encouraged by the highest authorities in Azerbaijan.

The delegation members praised the work of Armenia's Human Rights Defender, emphasizing that they regularly receive reliable information about Armenia from the head of the Armenian Assembly in Egypt, including the activities of the Human Rights Defender.

The Human Rights Defender highly valued the work of the Armenian Assembly in Egypt, particularly their consistent efforts to integrate Artsakh into the civilized world, and agreements were reached with the delegation members to carry out joint work aimed at the protection of human rights.

At the end of the meeting, the Defender answered questions from reporters,” the statement said.