The Ombudsman received the EU Special Representative

The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ms. Sabina Aliyeva received a delegation led by EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia, Mr. Toivo Klaar. The meeting was also attended by the Head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan Mr. Kestutis Jankauskas.

The parties mainly discussed the Second Karabakh War between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which lasted 44 days and resulted in the liberation of our lands that have been occupied for almost 30 years, as well as the human rights situation in the post-war period. Numerous questions of the members of the delegation about the activities of the Ombudsman in the field of protection of human rights during the war and in the post-conflict period were answered.

The Ombudsman spoke about the facts of gross human rights violations by Armenia during the war, and about the various types of documents, including statements, open letters, etc. issued and addressed to international organizations, as well as the European Union. Ms. Aliyeva also informed the delegation members about the fact-finding missions in conflict-affected areas, including Naftalan, Tartar, Ganja and Barda, where innocent civilians were indiscriminately targeted using banned weapons. The Ombudsman noted the evidence-based fact-finding missions reports on children killed as a result of Armenian attacks, as well as on the inhumane treatment of the Azerbaijani prisoners of war and hostages by the adversary side.

It was also noted that Azerbaijan has not yet been provided with a landmine map of the liberated areas, as a result of which civilians were killed and injured by mines, and called on the EU to influence Armenia in this matter. The Ombudsman noted that the situation, which prevented the return of IDPs to their native lands after the end of the war, was a matter of serious concern.

In his turn, Mr. Klaar thanked the Ombudsman for the warm reception and welcomed the activities of the Institution, expressing interest in future cooperation.