Human Rights Defender Addresses Video of Tortured Armenian Female Soldier's Body

The Human Rights Defender of Armenia has issued a statement, particularly noting: "An alarming video depicting the body of a deceased Armenian female soldier, allegedly subjected to torture, is circulating widely through Armenian media and social networks. This video, created with extreme cynicism by the Azerbaijani soldier supposedly responsible for this heinous act, targets and defames the soldier’s gender and ethnic identity. It is actively disseminated in Azerbaijani media circles, eliciting 'admiration and praise' from Azerbaijani users.

In the Azerbaijani media context, this has an obvious explanation: the extreme hatred towards ethnic Armenians, which is generated and fueled by such aggressive attacks and decades of systemic policies. On the other hand, I find it extremely concerning that this video is being spread among journalists and users within the Armenian media landscape and social networks.

The female soldier and her family members have the right to non-targeted treatment and respect for their inalienable dignity, which is essential to each of our rights and freedoms.

Dear compatriots, these acts have been documented and analyzed by us, and will be presented to international specialized organizations. Additionally, the mentioned materials will be the subject of investigation by our law enforcement agencies.

I urge journalists and users of various social networks to remove similar videos from their posts, pages, and platforms. Respect the dignity of our fallen soldiers and their family members. Do not assist in the Azerbaijani propaganda machine of hatred. We bow to our male and female heroes."