The Ombudsman’s Reaction to the Unfounded Claims of the Armenian Human Rights Defender

The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of Azerbaijan considers the claims made by the Armenian human rights defender during the press conference in Armenia on September 4, 2026, of discrimination against persons of Armenian origin convicted with crimes they committed because of their religious background, being subjected to torture, destroying of religious symbols of Christianity, being prevented from accessing the Bible, and being forced to read the Koran as unfounded and biased and views it as an attempt to undermine the ongoing peace process. 

Presenting such serious allegations to the public audience without any credible evidence is incompatible with the principles of human rights protection. In particular, attempts to link matters concerning individual persons to their religious affiliation and to frame them in terms of Christian-Muslim confrontation are unacceptable.

Azerbaijan is a multinational and multireligious secular state. The protection of the rights and freedoms of individuals with various religious backgrounds is treated equally, and their right to religious freedom is respected. 

The interlinking of criminal liability established by the judicial authority to a person’s ethnic origin and presenting their legal punishment as “an ethnic or religious-based persecution” is impermissible. The criminal liability is determined not by the person’s ethnic or religious background, but solely on the nature of the criminal offense, the evidence collected, and the legal assessment of the court.

During monitoring and visits conducted at various times by the Ombudsman’s National Preventive Group, confidential meetings were held with persons of Armenian origin detained on the territory of Azerbaijan; their medical and psychological conditions were assessed; and their rights and freedoms provided by international documents were explained to them in their native language. In the course of the monitoring, it was found that the protection of their rights and freedoms and the accessibility to healthcare and other necessary services are ensured in compliance with international standards without any discrimination whatsoever. 

In this regard, the Ombudsman particularly emphasizes the importance distinguishing between statements made with the aim of political purposes in the field of human rights protection and confrontational rhetoric. Serious accusations such as “torture,” “religious persecution,” and discrimination based on the religious affiliation without relying on the verified facts mislead public opinion, disrupt peace talks, and fuels religious-based confrontations.

     
Such irresponsible approaches are particularly alarming in the backround of the peace process between Azerbaijan  and Armenia that is underway. Sustainable peace can only be achieved not merely through political and legal agreements, but also through strengthening mutual trust, and tolerance between societies and avoiding rhetoric of hatred and intolerance. The dissemination of unverified information on religious grounds deepens the distrust between societies and undermines the environment necessary for the peace and reconciliation. 

The protection of human rights precludes the distortion of facts for political purposes and the creation of an “enemy” image based on religious affiliation. Those working in this field must be responsible in their statements, rely on objective and verified facts, and avoid rhetoric that could undermine peace and mutual trust.