The Reaction of the Ombudsman regarding the discovery of a mass grave in the territory belonging to Shusha Prison

Today another mass grave, verifying the facts of the murder and mass burial of people during the Armenian occupation in the now-liberated territories of Azerbaijan, was found in Shusha city. According to the initial information, that mass grave includes the remains of at least four people.

The other specific point that stands out among others is that the mass grave was found in the territory of Shusha Prison. This fact once again verified the allegations and witness statements that Azerbaijanis detained unlawfully in Shusha Prison were subjected to severe torture and inhuman treatment.

With great sadness, we must say that the number of violations of the norms of international humanitarian law committed by Armenia is not limited to this. Thus, the Ombudsman appealed to the international community regarding the places of mass burial discovered earlier in our liberated areas, and a specific report on the findings of the independent on-site investigation in the mass grave found in Edilli village of the Khojavend district.

The continuous discovery of mass graves in our liberated areas once again confirms Armenia’s policy of genocide and ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijanis. We have to highlight one more fact: the non-provision by Armenia of any information about the fate of nearly four thousand Azerbaijanis who went missing during the First Karabakh War led to deep suffering for the families of those missing persons for many years. The Armenian side evaded its international commitment regarding this issue by failing to provide the whereabouts of places of mass burial.

In my capacity as the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan, I call on the world community to take all feasible measures against Armenia concerning these circumstances, evidencing the serious violation of the norms of international law and human rights and freedoms, and support in obtaining information about the fate of our missing compatriots.

Sabina Aliyeva

The Commissioner for Human Rights

of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Ombudsman)

3 June 2023