Azerbaijan Continues to Hinder the Return of Prisoners, Ararat Mirzoyan

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan, issued a message on the occasion of the International Day of Enforced Disappearances, raising the issue of the restoration of the rights of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians unlawfully held in Azerbaijan.

The Armenian Foreign Minister stated that Azerbaijani authorities deny the facts of the abduction of dozens of Armenian soldiers and civilians, despite clear evidence, which means these individuals are considered victims of enforced disappearance.

“On December 21, 2010, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution expressing deep concern about enforced or involuntary disappearances around the world, including forced or involuntary detentions, and declared August 30 as the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. Victims of enforced disappearances are effectively deprived of all rights, including liberty, personal security, identity, and due process. Unfortunately, in many cases, they are also deprived of the right to life,” he emphasized.

“On this symbolic day, I want to once again raise awareness and draw the attention of all our partners to the issue of restoring the rights of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians unlawfully held in Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani authorities deny the abduction of dozens of Armenian soldiers and civilians, despite clear evidence, so these individuals are automatically considered victims of enforced disappearance. Official Baku openly disregards the relevant decisions of the European Court of Human Rights regarding the provision of information about Armenian military personnel and civilian captives captured in Azerbaijan.

By grossly violating international humanitarian law, the Geneva Conventions, and the requirements of paragraph 8 of the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, Azerbaijan continues to obstruct the return of prisoners. Meanwhile, as part of the consistent policy of hatred towards Armenians pursued by Azerbaijan's high-ranking leadership, Armenian prisoners and hostages in Azerbaijan are subjected to torture and inhuman and degrading treatment. There have also been recorded cases of depriving them of the right to life. Illegal and fabricated trials of Armenian prisoners of war continue. The concealment of the real numbers and detention locations of Armenian prisoners of war and civilian captives by Azerbaijan is undeniable evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

In this regard, the report published following the visit of the Human Rights Watch organization to Armenia and Artsakh is noteworthy, which classifies the humiliating treatment and torture of Armenian prisoners by Azerbaijan as a war crime. The attention given to the issue by many other human rights organizations, including Freedom House, is commendable, particularly the demand directed at the Azerbaijani authorities for full cooperation with the European Court of Human Rights to provide complete information about Armenian prisoners and to ensure the protection of their rights.

Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my gratitude to the European Parliament, as well as the parliaments of several countries, including the Netherlands, Slovakia, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, numerous heads of state, high-ranking spiritual leaders, dozens of human rights defenders, promoters of human rights, world-renowned cultural and artistic figures, parliamentarians, international organizations, and individuals who, by fighting for the supreme values of the right to life and respect for dignity, highlight the problem of Armenian prisoners through their statements, appeals, adopted resolutions, speeches, and calls for their immediate release and repatriation.

Following the spirit of the day, we urge our international partners, as well as human rights organizations, to intensify international pressure on the authorities of Azerbaijan, demanding respect for international humanitarian law norms and the immediate release of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians unlawfully and inhumanely held in Azerbaijan.