Young Man Forced to Wear Women's Clothing and Tortured: Report

The Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan, and human rights activist Siranush Sahakyan have presented an urgent report in English regarding the Azerbaijani state's responsibility for gross violations of the rights of Armenian captives, including the torture and inhumane treatment inflicted by Azerbaijani armed forces, the conditions of captivity, and the legal protection of civilians. The press conference will provide detailed insights into the circumstances of war crimes and the mechanisms for Azerbaijan's international accountability for these crimes. Present at the conference were also Gegham Stepanyan, the Human Rights Defender of Artsakh, and human rights activist Artak Zeynalyan.

During the conference, Arman Tatoyan revealed instances where in winter, captives were forced to sleep on the ground, with their hands tied behind their backs and in naked conditions; cold water was splashed on the prisoners, and windows were opened to inflict further suffering. Our captives were deprived of hygiene products, and in addressing their needs, they tore their clothes. When the Azerbaijani side learned that military personnel from the Red Cross or Russian peacekeepers were coming to visit the prisoners, they began to treat them normally or presented those prisoners whose condition was relatively better, while others were moved to the basement.

A 20-year-old man was forced to wear women's clothing, photographed, and mocked, compelled to praise their president, while being collected data regarding relatives and their place of residence, subjected to beatings, and forced to sign documents in Azerbaijani.