Armenian ombudsman details Azeri war crimes in new Rai 1 film
Famous journalist Stefania Battistini has made a long film about the 44-day war in Artsakh in 2020, its causes and consequences for Italian television channel Rai 1. Armenia’s Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan spoke about the atrocities and war crimes committed by Azerbaijani forces during the war as he was interviewed for the film.
In the film, Tatoyan described the atrocities of the Azerbaijani soldiers, who beheaded Armenians, mutilated their bodies and filmed or photographed it all. The Azerbaijani troops did not hide their faces, as they were convinced that they would go unpunished. Moreover, they shared relevant photos and videos on the Armenian social media platforms, being encouraged by the Azerbaijani side, the Ombudsman’s Office reported on Sunday.
Tatoyan pointed to the use of prohibited chemical weapons against the people of Armenia and Artsakh, as well as the involvement of jihadists-mercenaries and terrorists in the war by Azerbaijan.
"These atrocities will lead to new, heavier crimes if the masterminds and perpetrators are not held accountable," Tatoyan said.
He also reflected on human rights violations during the war, presented evidence of Azeri crimes and called attention to the disproportionate response of the international community. The ombudsman stressed that all this led to ethnic cleansing in Artsakh and was a consequence of Azerbaijan's genocidal policy.