Lawyer: Two Armenian soldiers captured; application filed with ECHR

PanARMENIAN.Net - Two Armenian soldiers, Areg Sargsyan and Narek Amirjanyan, have been captured during the large-scale war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). According to reports, they have been injured, former Armenian Minister of Justice, human rights advocate Artak Zeynalyan said on Facebook Wednesday, October 14.

Zeynalyan revealed that a group of lawyers representing the families of the soldiers applied to the European Court of Human Rights for urgent measures on October 11, demanding that Azerbaijan:

1. Act in accordance with the customary international humanitarian law and the October 10 ceasefire agreement on the exchange of prisoners of war and bodies of those killed, and transfer them (the servicemen – Ed.) to the Armenian authorities under ICRC guidance,

2. Undertake all measures to protect their lives and ensure their physical and psychological immunity until they are returned,

3. Provide proper medical care.

Zeynalyan added that the Court registered the case on October 12 and notified the Government of Azerbaijan, which is now required to provide the following information:

1. The conditions in which the two captives are currently being held;

2. Information about their medical examinations and overall health condition;

3. Information about the possibility of swapping the two servicemen, based on the provisions of a humanitarian ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan, mediated by Russia.

The Azerbaijani government has until October 22 to answer the questions, Zeynalyan added.

Azerbaijan, with help from Turkey and mercenaries deployed by Ankara, launched a large-scale offensive against Karabakh (Artsakh) in the morning of September 27, shelling Armenian positions and civilian settlements with large caliber weapons and rocket systems. The Armenian side has reported deaths and injuries both among the civilian population and the military. Foreign and local journalists too have been injured in Azeri shelling of towns and villages. Although a humanitarian ceasefire was supposed to begin on October 10, Azerbaijan has renewed hostilities along the line of contact.