Azerbaijanis Target Relatives of Vagif Khachatryan on Social Media: Armenia's Human Rights Defender

The Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia reports:
"In connection with the abduction of a 68-year-old citizen being transferred to Armenia for treatment under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan has had a number of discussions since July 29 with international partners and representatives of various organizations.
In particular, the results of studies were presented to them, according to which there is no data regarding the search for Vagif Khachatryan in any international intelligence system, and the unlawful interference with the fundamental rights of the individual occurs in violation of international legal guarantees and standards. Corresponding letters have been sent to internationally reputable organizations with mandates for the protection of human rights. Work is continuing in this direction with international partners, and new data is being obtained.
Anahit Manasyan also met with the relatives of the abducted citizen, to whom the details of the ongoing but unreleased works were presented.
The Defender notes that Vagif Khachatryan is a person under international humanitarian protection, who was being transferred to Armenia for medical treatment under the auspices of the ICRC. Therefore, his abduction by Azerbaijan's border service is a gross violation of international humanitarian law.
The Human Rights Defender has recorded instances where relatives of Vagif Khachatryan, including minors, have been targeted by Azerbaijanis on social media, particularly on Telegram channels, which is utterly unacceptable and condemnable. The Defender emphasizes that this phenomenon is further evidence of Azerbaijan's policy of hostility against Armenians."