Month: May 2021

Armenian ombudsman responds to Azerbaijani FM’s claims about POWs

Mary Lazarian
Panorama, Armenia

Armenia’s Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan on Tuesday responded to the Azerbaijani foreign minister's assertions regarding Armenian prisoners of war (POWs). The full text of Tatoyan’s statement is provided below.

"On , the foreign minister of Azerbaijan stated:

"The incidents related to the illegal entry of Armenian servicemen into the territory of Azerbaijan at the end of November last year, the death and wounding of Azerbaijani servicemen in December are a war crime committed against Azerbaijan. As a result of the operations carried out by the Azerbaijani special services, some of the Armenian servicemen who carried out provocative and subversive operations were killed and some were arrested. Investigations into them are ongoing."

Considering that the issue concerns the rights of Armenian captives (and prisoners of war), the Human Rights Defender of Armenia states that these statements of the Azerbaijani foreign minister grossly violate the international humanitarian law, including human rights law.

The reality is that there is an ongoing, open armed conflict. From the point of view of international [humanitarian] law, this means that regardless of whether or not they were taken captive (prisoners of war) after the November 9, 2020 tripartite declaration, they are prisoners of war, captives by legal status; they should be released immediately, without preconditions.

This issue is artificially delayed by Azerbaijani policy by openly abusing legal processes, presenting them as terrorists and in violation of international rules, using detention as punishment.

All the while, that is a universal demand requirement for the implementation of international rulings to be applied automatically. The opposite grossly violates international human rights requirements and the international humanitarian law, including the 1949 Geneva Convention. The release and return of prisoners should be considered solely in the context of the human rights and humanitarian processes.

The Human Rights Defender’s monitoring, as well as the results of the investigation of the complaints received continuously confirm that the Azerbaijani authorities, in gross violation of international requirements, artificially delay the release of the Armenian captives, and deliberately do not disclose the actual number of prisoners.

With this policy, they are violating the rights of prisoners and causing mental sufferings to the families of the captives and the missing persons, as well as are causing tension in the Armenian society.

The absolute urgency with respect to the issue of the release and return of captives must be considered in the context of the policy of hate speech and Armenophobia by Azerbaijani authorities.

Therefore, taking into account the humanitarian mandates of international bodies and their role in human rights (the priority of right to life) protection, the Human Rights Defender of Armenia draws their attention to the mentioned statement of the foreign minister of Azerbaijan violating the international humanitarian law, including human rights law` raising the urgent need to take decisive measures for the release and return of all captives."

Azerbaijan seeks to get the most out of ongoing process with Armenia, expert says

Edgar Tavakalian
Panorama, Armenia

Azerbaijan has recently been trying to step up pressure on Armenia, military expert Tigran Abrahamyan, the head of the analytical center Henaket, said on Wednesday, adding it is not accidental that the aspirations towards the “Zangezur corridor” are taking on different manifestations.

In a public post on Facebook, the expert said Azerbaijan is “in a hurry” because snap parliamentary elections are expected in Armenia and the likelihood of “their favorite candidate” losing the elections is growing.

“The problem is not how Azerbaijan helps the current Armenian authorities, but that Azerbaijan needs their reproduction more than ever since it would pave the way for them to completely satisfy their own regional ambitions.

“The key Armenian opposition figures are well known in Azerbaijan and it is clear that their coming to power does not fit into the Turkish-Azerbaijani plans.

“In the current situation, Azerbaijan has set at least two tasks for themselves: until the snap elections on June 20, to get the most out of the ongoing process with Armenia or to create a situation when it will be difficult for all subsequent authorities to regain favorable negotiation positions; second, to strengthen the positions of the incumbent authorities of Armenia directly or indirectly within its capacities,” Abrahamyan wrote.

He underlined that Azerbaijan continues to be the main initiator and dictate the rules of games, adding it will create further problems for Armenia.

Iranian Red Crescent Society provides humanitarian assistance to displaced people from Artsakh

Parkev Tvankchian
Panorama, Armenia

Iranian Red Crescent Society has provided humanitarian assistance to the Armenian Red Cross to respond to the most urgent and pressing needs of people displaced from Nagorno Karabakh. The aid was handed on May 12 when Deputy Ambassador of Iran to Armenia Ali Mohammad Mottaghi visited the Armenian Red Cross Society (ARCS) and was hosted by ARCS Secretary General Anna Yeghiazaryan. 

The assistance included  cloths, personal basic items and beddings, 400 units of kitchen items, 15,000 units of medical equipment which will be donated to the National Burn Center. 

Anna Yeghiazaryan has expressed gratitude to the government of the Islamic Republic for the cooperation and the assistance. "We have been partnering with the Iranian Red Crescent Society for many years and I am confident our cooperation will continue in the future for the benefit of all vulnerable groups," Yeghizaryan said in her remarks. 

To note, the Armenian Red Cross Society (ARCS) has been providing humanitarian assistance to people who arrived in Armenia in search of safety since the very first days of the escalation of the Nagorno – Karabakh conflict.

Georgian PM paid tribute to Armenian Genocide victims at Tsitsernakaberd complex

Lara Antonian
Panorama, Armenia

Society 20:19 12/05/2021Armenia

Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili accompanied by Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutyan and acting Deputy PM Tigran Avinyan visited the Memorial complex of the Armenian Genocide and paid tribute to the memory of the Holy Martyrs.

As the Yerevan Mayor's Office reported, Irakli Garibashvili placed wreath at the memorial for the Genocide victims and flowers near the eternal flame. 

To note, Irakli Garibashvili is paying an official visit to Armenia. 

Another 54 family moves to Artsakh

Arbi Tashjian
News.am, Armenia
08:30, 12.05.2021

As a result of the program of organizing study visit and relocation organized by the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) government’s operative headquarters in Armenia for the resettlement of various settlements of Artsakh, 54 families—271 people—have moved to Artsakh. The Artsakh government’s operative headquarters in Armenia informs about this, adding that nine study visits were organized for resettlement, in which the heads of 56 families were included.

As a result, the process of relocating six more families is being organized.

Armenia independent MP: No document should be given to Azerbaijan until all POWs have returned

Alex Jidarian
News.am, Armenia
14:23, 12.05.2021

YEREVAN. – There are always expectations; but whether or not there will be a returning of the captives is another question. Independent MP Sofya Hovsepyan on Wednesday told this to reporters at the National Assembly of Armenia, when asked whether after Russian FM Sergey Lavrov's recent visit to the region there can be expectations that the issue of Armenian captives in Azerbaijan will be resolved quickly.

"In fact, there was talk there of providing maps of [Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)] minefields, which Azerbaijan has long wanted to achieve. But as always, it wants to have them, but to do nothing in return. But our side concedes everything in turn, without making any demands, or makes, [but] which are not comprehensively applied. The Azerbaijani side violates the arrangements every time (…); that is, we should not pin high hopes on the outcome of those talks, and we should be very harsh so as not to provide the maps and then receive the prisoners of war, but no documents should be given to them until the entire bunch of the [Armenian] prisoners of war returns," Hovsepyan said.

She added that a clear demand must be presented that all the points in the trilateral statement that was signed must be implemented—and in a very short time. "Its guarantor is the Russian side which, it seems, should not fail, and should not have demands from us because we have fulfilled virtually all the demands—and more (…). The international community must make a clear assessment of all this and show its attitude to Azerbaijan. In fact, it turns out that Azerbaijan makes use of international funding, but when there is a clear demand from international organizations, it ignores them," added the Armenian lawmaker.

And touching upon the security issues at the border villages of Armenia’s Syunik Province, Sofya Hovsepyan said: "We are obligated to address these issues and ensure security. (…) and [now] there is no safe area in Armenia at all. (…). It would be right for them [the incumbent Armenian authorities] to just keep quiet and act, not to spread false information. Virtually no action has been taken in that regard."

Chess: Armenia convicts place 3rd at international chess tournament

Arpi Talalian
News.am, Armenia

YEREVAN. – The online conference and international tournament of the Chess for Freedom program—with the participation of convicts from Armenia, Russia, the US, and Spain—were held on Tuesday, reported the press service of the Armenian Chess Federation.

The goal of this program, which is implemented under the auspices of 12th World Chess Champion Anatoly Karpov, is the introduction of chess as a tool for education and social inclusion in prisons in various countries.

Armenia placed third in the aforesaid online international chess tournament. Russia took the first place.

Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem: Armenian community is calm

Jirair Kafian
News.am, Armenia
23:44, 12.05.2021

The Armenian community is in good condition. This is what Supreme Archimandrite Samvel Aghoyan of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem told Armenian News-NEWS.am, adding that there is no danger at the moment and that the people are calm.

On May 9, Gaza fired missiles in the direction of Israel, after which the Israeli army struck HAMAS’s military post in the south of Gaza.

Today it was reported that Israel has refused to accept HAMAS’s offer for a ceasefire that HAMAS had transmitted through international organizations.

Shelling continues in Israel’s borderline regions. One of the missiles fired from Gaza struck a grocery store in Hof Ashkelon. There was nobody in the store, meaning nobody was hurt, but the building is destroyed.

Turkish press: Russia to take further steps to support Nagorno-Karabakh cease-fire

Garnik Tadevosian
 ANKARA EUROPE 
MAY 12, 2021 1:18 PM GMT+3
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks during a joint news conference with Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov following their meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan, . (Reuters Photo)

Russia will take further steps aimed at supporting the cease-fire between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday.

Speaking at a news conference in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, following a meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov, Lavrov said that the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will allow the unlocking of the region's high transit and economic potential, which had been blocked for years.

"We spoke in detail about the progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement. We have a shared opinion that the key to further normalization in the region is adherence in full to the agreements reached by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on Nov. 9 last year and Jan. 11 this year,” Lavrov said.

"These agreements provide all the necessary mechanisms to support the cessation of all hostilities and are aimed at unblocking transport and other links. This situation has been hampering the high transit and economic potential of this geopolitically important region for years," he said.

For his part, Bayramov slammed Armenia's unwillingness to share mine maps, saying 22 Azerbaijanis were killed by explosives planted during the occupational period.

"We see this trend as dangerous and we are watching it carefully. We're ready to turn the current page. Since the occupation situation is over, we can talk about normalizing relations with Armenia. Azerbaijan is taking steps in this direction," he said.

Nagorno-Karabakh lies within Azerbaijan but was under the occupation of Armenian forces since a war there ended in 1994. That war left Nagorno-Karabakh itself and substantial surrounding territory in Armenian hands.

In 44 days of fighting that began in late September and left more than 5,600 people dead on both sides, the Azerbaijani army pushed deep into Nagorno-Karabakh, forcing Armenia to accept a peace deal that saw Azerbaijan reclaim much of the region along with surrounding areas. Russia deployed nearly 2,000 peacekeepers for at least five years to monitor the peace deal and to facilitate the return of refugees.

Under the agreement, which leaves Karabakh's future political status in limbo, Armenia lost control of parts of the enclave as well as the seven adjacent districts that it seized during the 1990s war.

The deal sparked celebrations in Azerbaijan and fury in Armenia, where the country's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian is facing mounting criticism for agreeing to the deal.