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Azerbaijan continues criminal acts against Armenian prisoners of war (POWs), Taguhi Tovmasyan, an MP from the opposition With Honor faction and head of the parliamentary Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs, said on Saturday, addressing the international community.

“More than a year has passed since the military aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh on September 27, 2020, that took 44 days, while terrible cases of war crimes by Azerbaijan against Armenians are still detected,” the deputy said in her address.

She noted that factual information was obtained within the framework of a criminal probe opened by the Investigative Committee of Armenia on the death of Armenian POW Artur Martirosyan in such conditions as torture of the soldiers, captured by Azerbaijan on November 16, 2021, inhuman and degrading treatment against them, intentionally causing serious suffering, leaving the wounded soldier helpless and denying them medical care.

Taguhi Tovmasyan calls on the relevant international institutions to take immediate action to prevent these unacceptable and criminal actions by Azerbaijan.

Tovmasyan also highlights that such cases should be subject to individual investigation, the international community should condemn the gross violations of the international humanitarian law by Azerbaijan and take relevant measures to protect the fundamental rights of the Armenian prisoners of war.

“Accountability mechanisms are required to reduce the risk of such criminal cases by Azerbaijan, otherwise the blatant violations of the rights of the Armenian prisoners of war will continuously appear to be serious challenges to the international humanitarian law,” she stated.

Tovmasyan cites Articles 12, 13, 14 of the Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of August 12, 1949 stipulating that the “Detaining Power is responsible for the treatment given them” /prisoners of war/; “Prisoners of war must at all times be humanely treated. Any unlawful act or omission by the Detaining Power causing death or seriously endangering the health of a prisoner of war in its custody is prohibited, and will be regarded as a serious breach of the present Convention…”; “…prisoners of war must at all times be protected, particularly against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity. Measures of reprisal against prisoners of war are prohibited”; “Prisoners of war are entitled in all circumstances to respect for their persons and their honor."

“Dear international colleagues, the international humanitarian law is blatantly violated by Azerbaijan before your eyes. Do not be silent, take steps before it is too late!” the lawmaker said.