Today, the human rights organizations and a number of NGOs operating in Azerbaijan held a meeting regarding the photo and video materials about the torture and inhuman treatment of a military serviceman of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan, spread in the Armenian media.
Ednews informs that addressing an appeal to international organizations and institutions that providing access to justice for all, they called on the world community not to be silent on inhumane and insulting actions against Azerbaijani soldiers.
At the event held at the office of the International Eurasia Press Fund, the text of the statement was presented and sensitive images of Azerbaijani soldiers broadcasted in the Armenian media were shown.
In the statement, it was specifically mentioned that the Armenian side has grossly violated the norms and principles of international legal norms and the Geneva Convention, and that this should be prevented and urgent measures should be taken.
The NGOs appealed to the relevant international organizations and called on Armenia to respond to this fact and comply with the requirements it has undertaken under international law.
Ednews presents the statement:
"NGO community of the Azerbaijan looked forward to work on restoring peace and stability between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Despite years of aggression against Azerbaijan, we were and remain committed to reconcile. However, because of the continuous provocations by Armenia disrupting the signing of a final peace deal, peace between two countries remains distant. Armenian mine terror claims lives of innocent Azerbaijani citizens almost on a weekly basis. Multiple provocations on the border in gross violation of the November 10, 2020 trilateral statement also threaten the fragile peace.
Today we are raising our voice because of yet another dreadful episode capable of further deepening the divide between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Earlier this week, 2 Azerbaijani soldiers got lost in poor weather and Armenian authorities confirmed that these soldiers are in their custody.
However, to our shock and dismay, a footage of these soldiers being tortured emerged in the Armenian media. There is irrefutable evidence of them getting beaten and humiliated. The Armenian authorities not just bluntly violate the Geneva Conventions, they also took pride in treating these soldiers in a totally disgraceful way with respective footage currently circulating on social media.
We are calling upon respective international organizations and justice systems not to stand idle in the face of this unceremonious disrespect of human right and international humanitarian law. With this underlined, we are calling for urgent action to prevent yet another tragedy. It should be underlined that on similar occasions when Armenian servicemen have mistakenly wondered into the Azerbaijani territories they have been returned speedily and unharmed.
We ask for your help in bringing these 2 citizens of Azerbaijan home safe and sound."
Regarding the issue, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan informed the international organizations about the violence against the Azerbaijani soldier who was captured in Armenia.
The West Azerbaijani Community condemned the torture of an Azerbaijani soldier in Armenia.
Also, the embassy and international organizations expressed their opinions on the issue.
European Union - EU Ambassador Peter Michalko said that the video shared on Twitter yesterday is deplorable.
“I saw a video showing violent treatment of a detained Azerbaijani soldier. Indeed deplorable. Important that all prisoners are treated in line with international humanitarian law”, - ambassador noted.
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)is aware of issue of two Azerbaijani servicemen detained in Armenia.
The US Embassy in Azerbaijan also released information about this.
US concerns about violence against Azerbaijani soldier in Armenia.
“We urge Azerbaijan and Armenia to resolve all outstanding issues through peaceful negotiations”, - it was noted.
"Terrible to see video footage of violence against an Azerbaijani soldier in Armenia," British Ambassador to Azerbaijan Fergus Auld wrote on his Twitter page.
