Azerbaijani MFA: We reject claims from Human Rights Watch

Azerbaijan is committed to upholding international norms, including international humanitarian and human rights law. As such, we reject the claims from Human Rights Watch that POWs were not treated following the Geneva Conventions, Report states.

We regret that the recent report by HRW on alleged cases of mistreatment of Armenian POWs is one-sided and falls short of providing an objective situation. The systematic nature of such statements based on unsubstantiated arguments and unchecked facts casts doubt on their validity.

Armenian POWs and civilians detained in Azerbaijan were treated according to the requirements of the 1949 Geneva Conventions. They were not subjected to torture, humiliation, and inhuman treatment, and they were provided with the necessary medical care. Each of them underwent a medical examination during their detention. The analysis did not reveal any traces of injuries (except for wounds received in combat operations).

Contrary to claims that POWs remain in custody, Azerbaijan has returned all Armenian prisoners of war to Armenia. It was agreed under the Trilateral Statement of 10 November 2020.

While detained, beginning from October 2020, Armenian POWs and civilians were provided with regular visits by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Telephone and video calls with family members were facilitated.

Besides, representatives of the Ombudsman's Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan regularly reviewed POWs' conditions by visiting their detention places.

Azerbaijan has opened criminal investigations against those allegedly linked to cases of abuse. Notably, despite repeated requests and numerous allegations, Armenia has not launched any investigations into the degrading treatment of Azerbaijani prisoners of war and detained civilians.

The Government of Armenia has attempted to confuse the context in which arrests have been made. Following the end of the conflict, marked by the signing of the Trilateral Statement of 10 November 2020, anyone detained in Azerbaijan cannot be considered POWs.

Those sent by Armenia to Azerbaijan's territory to engage in sabotage and terrorist activities in the period after the signing of the mentioned trilateral statement are not and cannot be considered as POWs by international humanitarian law and are liable under the criminal law of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Detainees are being treated under international human rights law and Azerbaijani law upholding their rights.

To reiterate, Azerbaijan has returned all detainees classified as POWs.

The Government of Azerbaijan calls on HRW to turn its attention to the testimonies of the ill-treatment of Azerbaijani prisoners of war and civilian detainees by Armenia and thousands of missing Azerbaijanis.

As a result of the first Karabakh War, 3890 Azerbaijanis went missing, and their fate remains unknown. These missing people were comprised of 3171 militaries and 719 civilians (including 71 children, 267 women, 326 elderly). According to the witnesses of 1480 former Azerbaijani POWs, in a grave violation of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions of 1949, the Azerbaijani POWs were tortured, ill-treated, and held in degrading conditions. Criminal investigations proved that 35 people were responsible for degrading treatment and torture against the Azerbaijani POWs and detainees. The names of those responsible were presented to Interpol.

There is also considerable evidence, including video materials showing the mistreatment of the Azerbaijani POWs by the Armenian armed forces during the latest military operations, widely disseminated in social media.

All POWs and civilians previously detained in Armenia and later returned to Azerbaijan underwent a forensic medical examination and were questioned about their detention conditions. Expert opinions, personal statements, and other materials confirmed that the vast majority of detainees were subjected to physical torture and inhumane treatment.
Unlike Azerbaijan, the Government of Armenia has refused to investigate these allegations.

We call the relevant international institutions to refrain from such a one-sided stance and ensure complete impartiality in compiling reports concerning the region's post-conflict situation.