Azerbaijan denies detention of documented PoWs, Armenia tells ICRC

PanARMENIAN.Net - Azerbaijan continues to deny the fact that a large number of documented prisoners of war are being held hostage, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan told the Head of ISRC Delegation to Armenia Thierry Ribaux at a meeting on Wednesday, September 29.

Mirzoyan said Azerbaijan's denial creates serious grounds for suspicion of serious crimes committed by Azerbaijan against the Armenian captives, including enforced disappearances of PoWs. The Armenian foreign policy chief stressed the need for the immediate and unconditional repatriation of all Armenian prisoners of war and civilian hostages from Baku.

The two also discussed ICRC's activity in Artsakh, and Mirzoyan maintained that artificial obstacles should not be hindering the humanitarian missions of international organizations and that the issue should not be politicized.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on Monday adopted a report on the humanitarian consequences of the recent war, expressing concern about the fate of around 30 Armenians, seen, filmed or photographed in Azerbaijani captivity, with no indication as to their current whereabouts.

The Assembly said those persons could have been subjected to enforced disappearances and possibly killed. PACE called on the Azerbaijani authorities to expedite their investigations on this matter and provide relevant information to the European Court of Human Rights and to Armenia.

Azerbaijani forces violated Armenia’s border in several sections in the provinces of Syunik and Gegharkunik on May 12 and 13 and are still refusing to withdraw their troops from the area. Since then, almost a dozen Armenian servicemen have been killed in Azerbaijan’s shooting, a dozen others have been wounded, while six troops were captured on May 27, although four of them have already returned home.