Return of Armenian POWs Held in Azerbaijan is Urgent: Representative to ECHR

The humanitarian consequences of the Artsakh conflict were presented to the rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) by the Armenian representative to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) Yeghishe Kirakosyan today, May 21. He met with PACE rapporteur on migration, refugees, and displaced persons Paul Gavin (Ireland), PACE Migration Committee Secretary Mark Nevil, Deputy Head of the Security Council Office Maxim Longane, Armenia’s permanent representative to the Council of Europe Paruir Hovhannisyan, and Chairman of the Permanent Committee on Foreign Relations of the National Assembly Ruben Rubinyan.

Yeghishe Kirakosyan raised issues regarding the violations of the rights of those displaced from Artsakh in the post-war period, particularly concerning prisoners of war (POWs). He referenced the collaboration with international organizations. The representative emphasized the urgency of returning Armenian servicemen held in Azerbaijan, noting that Azerbaijani authorities are grossly violating international requirements for the protection of prisoners’ rights, labeling them as terrorists or saboteurs. Furthermore, the Azerbaijani government is artificially delaying and politicizing the return process.

The ECHR representative addressed the rights of people displaced from Artsakh and their property rights, informing that Armenia has filed an inter-state complaint with the European Court, which includes the rights of internally displaced persons. Accompanying the complaint are numerous and extensive evidences of war crimes.

In this context, Yeghishe Kirakosyan added that an inter-state complaint has also been filed against Turkey regarding the recruitment and transfer of Syrian mercenaries to Azerbaijan during the 44-day war, as well as for providing military assistance to Baku.