MFA: Azerbaijan condemns fabricated accusations, “trial” against Azerbaijani servicemen

Azerbaijan strongly condemns the so-called “trial” organized in Armenia over the servicemen of the Azerbaijani army Agshin Babirov and Huseyn Akhundov, who went missing in early April this year in the Shahbuz region of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic on the border with Armenia and were taken prisoner by Armenia, as well as the so-called “decision” to arrest Agshin Babirov, reads a statement by the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, Report informs.

“Armenia, subjecting Azerbaijani soldiers to severe physical tortures, is also subjecting them to moral and psychological tortures with such “trials.” With such irresponsible behavior, Armenia once again demonstrates that it ignores the legal responsibility that it bears in accordance with international humanitarian law, as well as the calls of the international community for the release of hostages and the principles of humanism.

The fact that the Armenian side, by its step, didn’t show reciprocity in connection with the confidence-building measures taken by Azerbaijan, immediately and without any preconditions returning the Armenian hostages, in particular, more than 10 servicemen who, having lost their way, crossed the border with Azerbaijan, indicates that Armenia is not interested in measures to establish peace and confidence in the region. Responsibility for undermining trust-building efforts by such an approach lies entirely with the Armenian side.

Armenia must put an end to this activity, which is accompanied by gross violations of international humanitarian law, and immediately release the hostages.

We call on the entire international community, relevant international organizations and non-governmental organizations to exert serious influence and pressure on Armenia for the release of our captured military personnel and their reunion with their families as soon as possible,” the statement says.