EU Commissioner slams Azerbaijan's "disturbing, humiliating" trophy park

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, has slammed Azerbaijan's "Trophy Park" as "highly disturbing and humiliating".

The newly-inaugurated "museum" displays Armenian military equipment taken as a trophy during the 44-day war in Karabakh and shows dehumanizing scenes and wax figures of what Baku claims to be Armenian servicemen.

“I regret to learn that you recently inaugurated the "Trophy Park" in Baku, which has been opened to the public since 14 April and can be visited by everyone, including small children. From information and the images which are publicly available, I noticed that it shows dehumanizing scenes, including wax mannequins depicting dead and dying Armenians soldiers. I consider such images highly disturbing and humiliating” said the Commissioner.

“This kind of display can only further intensify and strengthen long-standing hostile sentiments and hate speech, and multiply and promote manifestations of intolerance.”

In her letter, Mijatović urged Azerbaijan to take utmost care not to perpetuate and multiply the already deeply-running grievances between the communities affected by the conflict in and around Nagorno-Karabakh.

She called on the President to take a firm stance against any rhetoric or actions which lead to triggering animosity or hatred and instead, provide his full support and political backing towards efforts aimed at promoting peace and reconciliation between the populations affected by the conflict, particularly bearing in mind the wellbeing of the future generations of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The Commissioner concluded the letter by confirming her availability and willingness to travel to Azerbaijan at the earliest convenience, provided that, in accordance with her mandate, she has access to all places of human rights relevance within the country’s internationally recognized borders.

Azerbaijan responded to Mijatović's letter and rejected all the recommendations raised by the Commissioner, pinning the blame on Armenia and casting doubt on the impartiality of the Commissioner’s work.