The Network of CSOs for the Protection of the Rights of Forcibly Displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) has issued a statement. We present the statement below.
“As a result of the genocidal policy carried out by the Republic of Azerbaijan for years, the fundamental norms of human rights, which were enshrined not only in the framework of the national legislation, but also in a number of international legal acts, were grossly violated and continue to be violated to this day.
As a result of the 44-Day War of 2020 and the military operations unleashed by the Republic of Azerbaijan against the Republic of Artsakh on 19 September, 2023, Azerbaijan targeted the civilian population of Artsakh using weapons and cluster missiles prohibited by international documents. As a result of these and other atrocities, a number of civilians including young children, elderly, and pregnant women died and were injured to varying degrees,.
More than a dozen of our compatriots, including former military and political leaders of the Republic of Artsakh, were captured by Azerbaijan. Taking advantage of the vulnerable situation of the prisoners, Azerbaijan uses them for the realization of its propaganda goals. In particular, Azerbaijan aired the announcement of a fake and fabricated film made on the basis of forced interviews with captured military and political leaders of the Republic of Artsakh, which the Azerbaijani authorities titled “Anti-Terror”.
This Anti-Armenian Policy of Azerbaijan, as well as illegal actions against prisoners, violates the fundamental provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights, and the Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
Based on the above, we call on the Government of the Republic of Armenia, the UN Security Council, the European Union, the Council of Europe and the embassies operating in the Republic of Armenia to take effective measures:
- Towards the immediate release of all persons captured by Azerbaijan,
- Until the release of all captives, to prevent any exploitation of their vulnerability, including for propaganda purposes;
- To prevent the screening of a film based on false and fabricated information.
Network of CSOs for the Protection of the Rights of Forcibly Displaced from Artsakh
- “Harmony” Shushi Women NGO
- “Krunk” NGO for the Protection of the Rights of Artsakh Armenians
- “Return to Kashatagh” NGO
- “Return to Karvachar” NGO
- “Return to Dizak” NGO
- “Kumairi” Artsakh Armenians’ NGO
- “De-Occupation of Hadrut” NGO
- “De-Occupation of Shushi” NGO
- “Askerantsiner Community Development Center” NGO
- “Hay Ka” Social, Security and Development NGO
- “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO
26 March, 2024
