As a result of large-scale military operations unleashed by Azerbaijan against Nagorno Karabakh (occupied Artsakh Republic: ed.) on 19 September, 14 people were tortured and 64 died while migrating from Nagorno Karabakh (occupied Artsakh Republic: ed.).
Rafael Vardanyan, the Head of the Department of Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of the General Military Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee stated, in a video published on the official YouTube channel of the Investigative Committee.
“We have more than 200 dead among the servicemen and civilians. The location of about 12 civilians and about 30 servicemen is still unknown,” Vardanyan said.
According to him, 12 of the 14 tortured persons are servicemen, two are civilians.
As a result of military operations, nine civilians were killed, three of them children. 231 servicemen and 80 civilians received physical injuries of various degrees.
Referring to the kidnappings and captures, Vardanyan said that as of 30 October, there are 16 people arrested. Ten of them are civilians. Eight of the 16 arrested persons are members of the former and current political leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh (occupied Artsakh Republic: ed.) detained on trumped-up charges in Baku prisons. After the 44-day war, as of 19 September, there are 37 more people confirmed as illegally detained in Azerbaijan.
A request to apply urgent measures against Azerbaijan has been submitted to the European Court of Human Rights regarding officials, servicemen and civilians of Armenia.
“As of now, we have confirmation from Azerbaijan that these persons are in captivity. The process related to the others is still ongoing,” Vardanyan said.
According to him, the body implementing the proceedings also cooperates with the Armenian office of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Now, within the framework of the proceedings, large-scale investigative and procedural actions, interrogations, inspections of bodies are being carried out. A number of forensic genetic and forensic examinations have been appointed, the conclusions of which have not yet been received.
“Relatives of the victims were recognized as victims. The authentication process has not yet completed. All those persons who were forced to be displaced are also fixed by the body implementing the procedure,” Rafael Vardanyan emphasized.
More than one hundred thousand forcibly displaced Armenians will be recognized as victims. Vardanyan urges those who have information about the incidents in Nagorno-Karabakh to contact the Investigative Committee. Personal privacy is guaranteed.
