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Armenian Defense Minister, Head of the Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons, Davit Tonoyan, on Thursday hosted Head of the Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to Armenia Claire Meytraud, the ministry’s press service reported.

Speaking about the videos spread by the Azerbaijani media concerning Gurgen Alaverdyan, an Armenian officer who mistakenly crossed into Azerbaijan and was captured there in late August, Tonoyan expressed concerns over their content.

The minister underlined that the Azerbaijani authorities’ refusal to allow ICRC representatives in Baku to meet with the Armenian captive is a gross violation of international human rights, particularly the commitments assumed by Azerbaijan under the international humanitarian law.

At the same time, the Armenian defense chief thanked the ICRC Yerevan Office head for the efforts made by the delegation to protect the rights of POWs and civilians under the jurisdiction of Azerbaijan.

Claire Meytraud, in turn, assured that the delegation is taking all necessary steps to ensure all the procedures stemming from the status of Gurgen Alaverdyan and other Armenian captives in Azerbaijan.

The officials also discussed the activities aimed at assessing the level of applicability of international humanitarian law in the Armenian Armed Forces.