Society 19:30 24/05/2021 Region

The Human Rights Defenders of Armenia and Artsakh presented evidences on the Azerbaijani war crimes to the PACE Rapporteur

The Human Rights Defender of Armenia Mr. Arman Tatoyan and the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Artsakh Mr. Gegham Stepanyan hosted the Rappeurture appointed by the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population of PACE, Mr. Paul Gavan and the PACE Migration Committee Secretary Mr. Mark Neville, who are in  Armenia for the preparatory work of the report titled “The humanitarian consequences of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan".
 
As the Ombudsman's Office reported, Mr. Arman Tatoyan emphasized the importance of the CoE Rappeurture’s initiative and visit to Armenia. The Human Rights Defender also emphasized the importance of the visit of the Rappeurture to the border areas of the Gegharkunik and Syunik regions, since the report would not be objective and complete without getting acquainted with the situation created on the ground and holding meetings with the border residents.
 
In his turn, the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Artsakh Mr. Gegham Stepanyan noted that international human rights organizations should visit Artsakh to protect the rights of the people living there. The PACE has resolutions through which it considers the protection of human rights important in the territory of the CoE, irrespective of the recognition of the independence of a state. G. Stepanyan also referred to the Azerbaijani policy of isolating Artsakh; however, the international community should consider that the political status of a territory should not have an effect on the protection of human rights (women, children, persons with disabilities, etc.).
 
Mr. Arman Tatoyan and Mr. Gegham Stepanyan presented the war crimes committed by the Azerbaijani armed forces during the September-November 2020 war.
 
The analysis of around 300 videos and photos of Azerbaijani atrocities against Armenian servicemen and civilians, the destruction and desecration of the Armenian historical, cultural and religious heritage, and the use of banned weapons were sent to international organizations.

The Human Rights Defenders of Armenia and Artsakh underlined that the highest bodies of the Azerbaijani authorities continue the policy of Armenophobia and enmity towards Armenians. This is evidenced, for example, by the opening of the so-called "exhibition-park" in Baku on the September-November 2020 war. Moreover, the fact the Azerbaijani crimes against Armenians are ethnically motivated, and encouraged the authorities, is also confirmed by a number of ECtHR decisions.  

Mr. Arman Tatoyan called the attention of the PACE representatives on the Armenophobic speeches of the President of Azerbaijan, and stressed that those speeches further incite Armenophobia in the Azerbaijani society. Within this context, the Defender presented the most used Armenophobic statements of the President of Azerbaijan, and showed videos depicting certain representatives of the Azerbaijani armed forces using the same terminologies while torturing Armenian servicemen and civilians.

During the meeting, Mr. Arman Tatoyan and Mr. Gegham Stepanyan referred to the urgency of the return of the Armenian captives in Azerbaijan, noting that the policy of the Azerbaijani authorities grossly violates the international requirements of the protection of the rights of the captives, and has caused mental suffering to their relatives.

It was specifically emphasized that the Azerbaijani authorities are artificially protracting and politicizing the process of release and return of the captives.

Defender of Armenia Mr. Arman Tatoyan referred to the tense situation on the borders of the Gegharkunik and Syunik regions. The Defender presented the results of the fact-finding activities of the Office in the Gegharkunik and Syunik regions, in relation to the gross violations of the rights of the border residents of Armenia as a result of the illegal presence of Azerbaijani armed servicemen in the sovereign territory of Armenia since May12, 2021

Presenting the illegal actions of the Azerbaijani armed forces, A. Tatoyan concluded that the evidences obtained by the Defender of Human Rights of Armenia confirm the absolute necessity of creating a security zone to ensure the rights of the border residents of Armenia, as proposed by the Defender.

The Human Rights Ombudsman of Artsakh called the attention of the PACE Rappeurture on the humanitarian situation in Artsakh after the war, noting that 120 Artsakh communities remain under Azerbaijani control, and more than 38,000 persons have been displaced from those communities, including 11,000 children. A part of the displaced population, around 13,000 persons have returned to Artsakh, while 25,000 persons are outside the territories of Artsakh.

Gegham Stepanyan presented the issues related to the minimum living conditions and the social situation of the displaced persons, and underlined the urgent need for international humanitarian assistance. The Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Artsakh referred to the policy of destroying the Armenian cultural and religious heritage in the areas under Azerbaijani control, presenting concrete examples.

The Human Rights Defenders of Armenia and Artsakh emphasized the role of the bodies of the CoE in the restoration of human rights in the post-war period and prevention of new atrocities.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties reached an agreement of future collaboration.



Source Panorama.am
Share |

Related news

Տեքստում սխալ կամ վրիպակ նկատելու դեպքում, ուղարկեք խմբագրին հաղորդագրություն` նշելով տվյալ սխալը, այնուհետև սեղմելով Ctrl-Enter:

Newsfeed

17:12
Armenia to face Georgia in Nations League play-off
The 2024/25 UEFA Nations League knockout stage and play-off ties have been confirmed following the draw in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday....
16:36
Hayk Marutyan agrees to debate with Tigran Avinyan
New Power party leader Hayk Marutyan has agreed to a TV debate with incumbent Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan. Marutyan, a former Yerevan...
15:45
Opposition politician: Pashinyan leading Armenia to 'final collapse'
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s administration is leading Armenia to the “final collapse” and Turkification, opposition...
15:05
Caretaker deputy justice minister sacked
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has signed a decree to dismiss Armenuhi Harutyunyan as Acting Deputy Minister of Justice....
14:35
Armenian parliament speaker confirms MP's resignation
National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan has issued a statement on the resignation of Narek Zeynalyan as an MP from Armenia’s ruling Civil...
14:06
Visa restricts media access to key event in Yerevan
Visa has restricted the media access to the Cashless Forum 2024 to be held in Yerevan for the first time on November 22. Only...
13:36
Orban says he will invite Netanyahu to Hungary after ICC warrant
Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday he would invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Hungary, saying he would guarantee...
13:11
Temps to plummet in Armenia
Clear weather is expected in Armenia's regions on Friday and over the weekend. Rain and snow are forecast for most parts of the country...
12:32
Alexis Ohanian showcases rare Armenian coin
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has showcased a rare Armenian coin from 95 BC featuring Tigranes the Great, a famous Armenian king....
12:16
German foreign minister criticizes Azerbaijan's human rights record
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock criticized the human rights record of Azerbaijan during her first appearance at the UN Climate Change...
12:06
Minister shares new images captured by Armenia's first satellite
Armenia's Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan has shared new satellite images from orbit captured by ARMSAT-1,...
11:36
World Cadet Chess Championship passes its halfway mark
The 2024 World Cadet Chess Championship has passed its halfway mark in Montesilvano, Italy. After 6 rounds, in the Open 12 category CM...
11:15
Iran to launch 'new and advanced centrifuges' in response to IAEA censure
Iran said Friday it would launch a series of "new and advanced" centrifuges in response to a resolution adopted by the IAEA that...
11:00
Armenian, Iranian foreign ministers hold phone call
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on Thursday had a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi....
17:07
Winter military draft starts in Armenia on November 25
The winter conscription for compulsory military service starts in Armenia on November 25 to run through January 31, 2025. The...
16:45
Russian spokeswoman told not to comment on ballistic missile strike live on air
Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova received a phone call during a live press briefing on Thursday telling her not to...
16:33
Belgian politicians call for immediate release of all Armenian prisoners held in Baku
In the backdrop of the COP29 currently taking place in Baku 20 members of the Belgian Federal Parliament, the Flemish Parliament, the Walloon...
16:06
Armenia thwarts large-scale drug smuggling attempt
Officers of Armenia’s State Revenue Committee (SRC) have foiled an attempt to smuggle some 1,600 grams of cocaine into the country as part...
15:33
Armenian government reduces financial aid for Artsakh refugees
The Armenian government on Thursday approved a decision to reduce financial aid for the displaced Artsakh Armenians. Starting from...
14:45
Percival Everett wins National Book Award
Percival Everett has won the $10,000 National Book Award for fiction, one of the US’s most prestigious literary prizes, for James, his...
14:35
Pyunik v West Armenia match canceled
An Armenian Premier League match between FC Pyunik and West Armenia has been canceled. The 17th round match was scheduled for November 21....
14:06
Armenian Foreign Ministry denies cooperation with Azerbaijan on water management
Armenia’s Foreign Ministry has denied claims of cooperation with Azerbaijan on transboundary water resources management. In a social...
13:36
No rain in sight for rest of the week
Clear weather is expected in Armenia's regions from Thursday to Sunday.  Rain and snow are forecast for most parts of the country...
13:06
Pashinyan thanks dismissed officials for cooperation
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed gratitude to the dismissed top government officials for joint work and wished good luck to...
12:36
Armenian church marks Presentation of Virgin Mary
The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Thursday, November 21. According to tradition,...
12:15
Luxembourg's parliament demands immediate release of all unlawfully imprisoned persons in Azerbaijan
Luxembourg’s Chamber of Deputies has adopted a resolution condemning the Azerbaijani government’s sanctions against the freedom of...
12:00
Davit Khudatyan appointed minister of territorial administration
Armavir Governor Davit Khudatyan has been appointed Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure. Armenian President Vahagn...
11:45
Australia launches bill to ban social media for children under 16
Australia's centre-left government on Thursday introduced a bill in parliament that aims to ban social media for children under 16 and...
11:30
Armenia's Andranik Avetisyan wins gold at World Military Wrestling Championships
The 37th World Military Wrestling Championships kicked off in Yerevan, Armenia, on Wednesday, bringing together 400 participants...
11:10
Leopard missing for two years spotted in Armenia's Tavush
A leopard, that lost its front paw and disappered from Armenia's Vayots Dzor Province in December 2022, has been spotted in...

Follow us and get updates!

Most popular articles

{"core.blocks.header.spell_message1":"Selected mistake: ","core.blocks.header.spell_message2":"Send a message about the mistake?"}