Two Armenian captives put on trial in Azerbaijan

PanARMENIAN.Net - Trial of Armenian citizens Lyudvig Mkrtchyan and Alyosha Khosrovyan, who are being held captive in Azerbaijan, has started, according to a local media reports.

Authorities in Baku claim that the two "tortured Azerbaijani prisoners of war during the first Karabakh war and committed other crimes." 12 Azerbaijanis have allegedly been involved as victims in the case.

Armenian lawmaker Nazeli Baghdasaryan said the trial is another gross manifestation of Azerbaijan's violation of international humanitarian law. According to her, Azerbaijan is trying to delay the return of the Armenian prisoners of war with false accusations.

"Armenia's official position on the matter remains unchanged, based on the implementation of the provisions of the statement signed on November 9, including the safe repatriation of prisoners of war, detainees and civilians, as well as on the establishment of peace and stability in the conflict zone," Baghdasaryan said.

So far, more than 70 Armenian POWs have returned home. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev claims that persons still being kept in Baku are not prisoners of war but “terrorists and saboteurs”. Officials and human rights advocates from the Armenian side, however, maintain Azerbaijan is still holding hundreds of people hostage, pledging to submit evidence proving the capture of said persons to international agencies and courts.