Working to eliminate the humanitarian consequences of the 2020 war is a priority for the Human Rights Defender office. During her two months in office, Kristinne Grigoryan provided information on unresolved humanitarian issues to partner ombudsman institutions and international organizations.
Kristinne Grigoryan (Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia) - The most important thing in my messages is that human rights should be considered in the basis of decisions and actions on every issue, because political conjunctures, diplomatic relations may go in some way, encounter obstacles, but ensure human rights but ensuring human rights is urgent.
The most important issue is the treatment of the captives and their return. In this regard, the European Court of Human Rights is the first to put pressure on Azerbaijan to consider individual and interstate applications. The next, according to the Defender, is the diplomatic direction.
Kristinne Grigoryan - We receive alarming responses. Our boys, who returned from captivity, presented the specific cases and facts of torture in private conversations with the Defender's Office, which were presented in a special public report. These signals continue, and this is waiting for a direct response from the Defender of Azerbaijan. In other words, my approach is for the institutions to work, and the human rights protection mechanisms to be launched.
The Human Rights Defender of Armenia has repeatedly tried to contact the Azerbaijani official Sabina Aliyeva through a mediator. According to Grigoryan, during various international meetings, ambassadors, contacts with colleagues of the Council of Europe, she always expressed a will to speak directly with her.
Kristinne Grigoryan - Regardless of the lower level of independence of the institution of the Commissioner for Human Rights in Azerbaijan, in any case, its mandate also includes humanitarian issues. I do not have a real response so far, but this could be a good communication. Participating in the network of ombudsman institutions, we see examples that such contacts are accepted practice and best contribute to the implementation of the mandates of different parties.
Ignoring the decisions of the Hague court, Azerbaijan continues its anti-Armenian policy. Among the manifestations are examples of actions aimed at eliminating the cultural heritage and the Armenian trace. The people of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) are under constant pressure and, according to the Defender, are at risk of physical extermination every day.
Kristinne Grigoryan - We closely monitor the statements made by Azerbaijani media, especially by high-ranking officials. The materials we have collected do not give grounds to claim that the Azerbaijani side has reduced its hate speech. This is a very dangerous message, this is a direct threat to the conditions for the implementation of political statements related to peace talks.
The Defender emphasizes that the constant raising of the issue should be a tool of pressure on the Azerbaijani side. Touching upon the Azerbaijani obstacles in the process of searching for the remains, Grigoryan noted that there is no obstacle on the part of Armenia in resolving humanitarian issues. The Defender also said that within the framework of their mandate they support the solution of various problems of the families of the missing servicemen.
