Statement of Protest of the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan to the biased approach of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) shared biased information on its Twitter account, which serves to incite national enmity and disrupt the fragile peace process by increasing the feeling of hatred between the peoples of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

We inform you that there is numerous irrefutable evidence that the Armenian armed forces brutally killed the Azerbaijani prisoners of war (PoWs) by torturing, humiliating them, and committing other inhumane acts.   

We have repeatedly appealed to the OSCE, as well as the UN, EU, CoE and their specialized agencies, and other competent international and regional organizations, and submitted reports regarding the facts confirming the war crimes committed against Azerbaijani PoWs, shared through social networks and other media resources. 

Unfortunately, unlike Azerbaijan, Armenia does not carry out any investigation into such facts and so, it does not comply with its obligations arising from the norms of international humanitarian law. 

In addition, the OSCE does not take any action in relation to such facts, applying double standards towards Azerbaijan, on the contrary, disseminating such biased information that does not reflect the truth about our country, disrupts peacemaking activities.

As it is known, Armenia and Azerbaijan have already demonstrated their loyalty to the UN Charter and the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration and recognized each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Taking this view, we strongly condemn this biased attitude, which is purposefully displayed at this very sensitive time, when the parties are getting closer to peace by recognizing each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty and call on the OSCE to demonstrate a fair position that serves to the promotion of sustainable peace and ensuring human rights between the parties. 

Sabina Aliyeva

The Commissioner for Human Rights

(Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan

08 October 2022