Visits are conducted to temporary detention places

Under the instruction of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ms. Sabina Aliyeva, the Ombudsman’s National Preventive Group against Torture (NPG) conducts visits to the temporary detention places without prior notice.

The objective of the visits organized on the basis of the OPCAT and the Constitutional Law on the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, was to investigate the conditions of detention, treatment of the detainees as well as prisoners of war (POWs) in compliance with the international humanitarian law (IHL) norms, including the Geneva Conventions (1949) and the situation of ensuring their rights.

During the next visit of the NPG, Armenian POWs were received in private, their appeals were heard. Their rights and appeal mechanisms were explained by also providing them with relevant legal tools in their own language.

They have been examined by the physician member of the NPG at their own requests. It was established that proper medical-psychological assistance is provided to POWs without any discrimination; IHL norms, in particular the provisions of the Geneva Conventions are respected.

POWs have expressed their satisfaction with the treatment and conditions of detention, medical care, nutrition and also thanked for such humanistic attitude.

It should be noted that the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan Ms. Sabina Aliyeva keeps in focus the situation related to captives, also the issue of ensuring their rights as part of her activities; this is monitored on the spot in the course of the visits.

Unfortunately, the Republic of Armenia doesn’t show the same attitude. The rules of IHL, in particular the requirements of Geneva Conventions have been flagrantly violated in relation to the Azerbaijani civilians as well as the wounded and captured military servicemen.