Protest of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the illegal deprivation of liberty of Azerbaijani servicemen captured by Armenia

We strongly condemn the fabricated so-called "trial" conducted in Armenia over Agshin Babirov (Gabil oglu) and Huseyn Akhundov (Ahliman oglu), the servicemen of the Azerbaijan Army, who went missing in April 2023 in the Shabuz district of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic on the border with Armenia and were captured by Armenia, as well as the illegal deprivation of liberty of Agshin Babirov.

Azerbaijani servicemen were subjected to brutal torture by Armenia, which is against the norms specified in the international legal documents to which it is bound, has now illegally deprived them of their liberty by organizing a so-called "trial process", in serious violation of international and procedural norms.

We earlier appealed to international and regional organizations regarding the illegal detention of our servicemen in Armenia. A letter was addressed to the headquarters and Baku Office of the International Committee of the Red Cross in relation to the video and photos released in the Armenian media regarding the inhumane treatment of and violence against a serviceman of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan.

We consider the "decision" made in the so-called "trial process" held by Armenia to be unfair and state that this decision, which caused a flagrant violation of the right to liberty, contravenes the norms and principles of international law, and we demand the immediate release of our soldiers.

As the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Azerbaijan, I invite the entire international community to apply strong influence and pressure on Armenia and to take actions in accordance with the norms and principles of international law in order to release our servicemen in captivity as soon as possible.

Sabina Aliyeva

The Commissioner for Human Rights

of the Republic of Azerbaijan

(Ombudsman)

9 May 2023