Armenophobia has progressively increased in Azerbaijan, at least in recent decades, the Armenian representative for International Legal Affairs stated at the conference organized by the Partnership for Open Society Initiative and Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center. According to Yeghishe Kirakosyan, war crimes and gross violations of humanitarian law are consequences of hate propaganda.
Yeghishe Kirakosyan (Representative of the Republic of Armenia in International Legal Affairs) - This issue should be constantly in the center of attention both by the international community and in different countries and societies, it will have a possible preventive effect.
The UN International Court of Justice is examining Armenia's claim based on the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD). And despite the decision to take urgent measures, according to which Azerbaijan must protect the security of the captives, prevent incitement to discrimination on racial grounds and desecration of cultural heritage, the country continues its anti-Armenian state policy and steps to destroy historical and cultural monuments in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). A working group has also been set up for that purpose.
Yeghishe Kirakosyan - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia has applied to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, demanding clarifications and referring to the decisions of the International Court of Justice, and demanding clarifications on that process. We are waiting for their response, we will see what steps we will take as soon as we receive the response.
Human Rights Defender Kristinne Grigoryan noted that the war against Artsakh in 2020 was accompanied by a huge propaganda of hatred and enmity, which got an extremist expression after the war. According to her, the deep-rooted reasons for hatred of Armenians are analyzed and substantiated in the 2020 joint report of the Human Rights Defenders of Armenia and Artsakh.
Kristinne Grigoryan (Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia) - I will be open to cooperation, to pursue the reports of the mentioned violations to the reports of fact-finding missions to the bodies mandated to protect international law, because I think it is our task to stop the hatred that leads to war. We have had the proof of it, and we still have it today.
Human rights activist Siranush Sahakyan at the 'Armenian hatred in Azerbaijan, the danger of ethnic cleansing in Artsakh’ conference presented the issues related to prisoners of war. Baku confirms the captivity of 38 people. Azerbaijan uses the humanitarian issue for political purposes.
Siranush Sahakyan (Representative of Captives in the ECHR) - There are 80 cases of captivity, according to our fact-finding, which is not accepted by Azerbaijan. They have the status of enforced disappearances, they are out of legal protection.
According to Sahakyan, international efforts should be directed to the comprehensive investigation of these cases, Azerbaijan should present the truth, being consistent in bringing the guilty to justice.
Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanded clarifications from the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, referring to the decisions of the International Court of Justice.
