On May 21, Human Rights Defenders of Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Arman Tatoyan and Gegham Stepanyan received Rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons Paul Gavan and Secretary of the PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons Mark Neville, who are in Armenia to prepare the report entitled ‘Humanitarian Consequences of the Conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan’.
Tatoyan attached importance to the Rapporteur’s visit to Armenia, particularly the visits to the borderline zones of Syunik and Gegharkunik provinces, because without getting acquainted with the situation on the ground, the report of meeting with the residents will not be complete, objective and complete.
Ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan in his turn stated, that international human rights organizations need to visit Artsakh to protect the rights of people living here.
Tatoyan and Stepanyan presented the war crimes that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces committed during the war that took place in September-November 2020.
The ombudspersons added that they have sent international organizations an analysis of nearly 300 videos and photos showing Azerbaijani atrocities against Armenian servicemen and civilians, the destruction of and disrespect towards Armenian historical, cultural and religious heritage and the use of banned weapons.
The two human rights defenders emphasized that the top authorities of Azerbaijan continue the policy of Armenophobia and hostility, evidence of which is the opening of a so-called ‘war trophy park’ in Baku in regard to the war that took place in September-November.
Tatoyan called the PACE delegates’ attention to the Armenophobic speeches by the President of Azerbaijan and, in this context, he presented the Armenophobic statements that are made more often and showed videos in which Azerbaijani soldiers use the same words while torturing Armenian servicemen and civilians.
During the meeting, Tatoyan and Stepanyan thoroughly touched upon the urgency of the return of Armenian captives being kept in Azerbaijan and emphasized that the Azerbaijani authorities are artificially delaying and politicizing the release and return of the captives.
Touching upon the tense situation regarding the borders of Syunik and Gegharkunik Provinces, the Ombudsman of Armenia presented the results of his fact-finding mission in the provinces in regard to the gross violations of the rights of borderline residents of Armenia due to the unlawful presence of Azerbaijani soldiers since May 12, 2021. He also said the evidence affirm the absolute need for his proposal to create a buffer zone.
The Human Rights Defender of Artsakh called the Rapporteur’s attention to the humanitarian situation created in Artsakh following the war and touched upon Azerbaijan’s policy of destruction of Armenian cultural and religious heritage in the places under Azerbaijan’s control.
Tatoyan and Stepanyan highlighted the role of the Council of Europe bodies in restoring human rights and not allowing more violations in the post-war period.
