Azerbaijan’s Delay of POW Return Presented at UN Human Rights Council

March 8, 2021 – During the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council dedicated to the discussion with the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Republic of Armenia (RA) Human Rights Defender, Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan submitted an extensive written report along with a video message invoking the torture, ill-treatment, and atrocities committed during the 2020 September-November war in Artsakh by Azerbaijani armed forces towards Armenian servicemen and civilians. In addition, Ombudsman Tatoyan referenced Azeri servicemen’s use of the same words and phrases in the gruesome videos depicting tortures and ill-treatment as those made in official Azeri speeches.

Ombudsman Tatoyan additionally emphasize the Azerbaijani authorities’ delay of the release and return of prisoners as well as servicemen and civilians, despite the unequivocal requirements of international humanitarian law, which causes mental anguish to the families of the illegally held prisoners, and inflicts deep emotional pain to Armenian society.