Bodies of Tortured and Mutilated Children and Women Transferred from Artsakh, Says Armenian Ombudsman

Numerous bodies have been transferred from Artsakh to Armenia, showing signs of torture and/or mutilation, said Armenian Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan in a press conference following a government meeting.

“I was the first to talk about the torture of individuals, mutilation of bodies, and other incidents. The preliminary report prepared by the Human Rights Defender in English (regarding torture of individuals) has been presented to the Hague court as a key piece of evidence. The main findings are as follows: there are numerous bodies that have been transferred from Artsakh to Armenia, including those of civilians, specifically children and women, showing signs of torture and/or mutilation,” Manasyan stated.

The Ombudsman assured that she has presented all this information to international partners. She emphasized that evidence-gathering efforts regarding cases of torture and mutilation of bodies have been conducted, but she will not disclose the current number, as all efforts must be made to uncover every case.

When asked how many ethnic Armenians are detained in Baku, Manasyan responded that she cannot specify an exact number since she is not the primary source of information, but such information is constantly being processed.

“Within my jurisdiction, I am trying to obtain information, but I can emphasize one thing: it is evident that all possible human rights restrictions and violations of basic rights against ethnic Armenians in Azerbaijan are taking place in violation of all international legal standards. In this regard, I continuously present my position to international organizations,” Manasyan said.