Representative of the Ombudsman participated at international event

“Alliance of International Dialogue and Development” Public Union held the International Conference on the topic of “Resolution of regional conflicts: the road to the peace”.

This event was attended by representatives of the relevant state bodies, international and non-governmental organizations, as well as the head of Legal-awareness Unit of the Ombudsman Office.

The representative of the Office has provided broad information on the Commissioner’s activity in the field of protection of the rights of compatriots that were massively violated as a result of the aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan, also in delivering to the world community the fact of destruction of natural, historical and cultural resources of Azerbaijan as a result of occupation.

It was noted that proclaiming “Peace Month-long Campaign” in the country annually from  August 21 to  September 21, on the eve of the International Peace Day at the initiative of the Commissioner, conducting conferences, round tables, organizing competitions and exhibitions  jointly with the central and local executive bodies, international organizations, educational institutions, NGO and mass media in all the rayons and cities of the republic with the active participation of the public serve the promotion of universal values and human rights being aimed at developing legal culture, legal thinking among different groups of population.

The representative stated that the Commissioner always keeps the issue of Azerbaijani captives and hostages in the focus, makes efforts in the protection of their rights, has officially appealed to the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) for many times on releasing them and rendered assistance in acceleration of returning several military captives to the Azerbaijani side within the mandate of that organization according to the international legal norms.

He emphasized the appeal of the Commissioner addressed to the ICRC Delegation in Azerbaijan for aiding to ensure that Dilgam Ahmadov and Shahbaz Guliyev, who were taken hostage by Armenian military servicemen during their visit to the native land for visiting graves of their relatives in Kalbajar rayon of our country which is under occupation, not being subjected to torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment during being hostage and treated in accordance with the norms of international law. The Commissioner has also discussed this issue with the Vice-President of the Committee in its headquarters located in Geneva city, as well as met with the family members of the hostages and got familiar with problems and needs.

Furthermore, he noted the appeal officially addressed by the Azerbaijani Ombudsman to the President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) with the purpose of issuing a decision regarding to take actions for fair conduct of the case of D.Asgarov and S.Guliyev in the ECHR, their release from illegal hostage in a short period of time and returning them to the Azerbaijani side.

It was also mentioned that with regard to Elvin Ibrahimov, who was wounded as a result of the fire opened by military servicemen of Armenia while crossing the border, as he lost his way at the border between Gazakh rayon of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Noyemberyan district of the Republic of Armenia on March 15, 2019, being currently held hostage, the representatives of Ganja Regional Center of the Ombudsman met with the mother of the hostage upon the instruction of the Commissioner Elmira Suleymanova, the issue was investigated.

In the appeal addressed by the Commissioner to Elena Ajmore Sessera, the Head of delegation of ICRC in Azerbaijan by taking into consideration the letter of request addressed to the Azerbaijani Ombudsman by the hostage’s mother, it was asked to ensure that E.Ibrahimov is not subjected to physical or moral abuse within the period of being held hostage; to keep his state under control via the ICRC delegation operating in the country he’s held and to render assistance in his returning to the Azerbaijani side as soon as possible within the mandate.