Yerevan slams Azerbaijan's barring of ICRC visit to Armenian officerSeptember 18, 2020 - 13:14 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Azerbaijan's obstructing of a visit by the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross to Armenian officer Gurgen Alaverdyan is a gross violation of Baku's commitments to the international humanitarian law, Armenian Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan said on Thursday, September 17. Tonoyan was meeting Claire Meytraud, the head of the ICRC Delegation to Armenia in Yerevan. The Defense Minister weighed in on videos spread by Azerbaijani media about Alaverdyan and expressed the Armenian side's concern over the matter. At the same time, Tonoyan thanked Meytraud for the ICRC's efforts in protecting the rights of prisoners of war and civilians under the jurisdiction of Azerbaijan. Alaverdyan went missing after he left his post to inspect the checkpoint during bad weather on August 22, according to Defense Ministry spokeswoman Shushan Stepanyan. The Azerbaijani side reported that the Armenian officer was taken prisoner after a failed sabotage, but Stepanyan has refuted the claims as disinformation. Armenia's Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan said earlier that footage published by Azerbaijani soldiers testify to the gross violations of Alaverdyan's rights. Top stories The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has visited the southern Armenian province of Syunik, the Defense Ministry reported on March 18. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. |