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Armenian prisoners of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War

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Armenian prisoners of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War are servicemen of the Defense Army of the Republic of Artsakh and the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia, as well as civilians and other detainees, who surrendered or were forcibly captured by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces during and after the conflict in 2020 between Azerbaijan and the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh together with Armenia in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas.

Azerbaijani forces inhumanely treated numerous ethnic Armenian military personnel, civilians and other detainees, subjected them to physical abuse,[1] torture,[2] humiliation,[1] enforced disappearance,[3][4] extrajudicial killing[5] and execution.[6] Intentionally killing civilians, intentionally killing prisoners of war, torture, taking hostages, the granting of no quarter despite surrender are all considered war crimes.[7]

The number of Armenian POWs has remained unknown.[2] They were held in degrading conditions of detention.[5] Despite calls for the immediate release of all Armenian POWs, civilians and other detainees by the EU and international organizations,[8] Azerbaijan has filed criminal charges against them.[9] Armenia filed a case against Azerbaijan at the International Court of Justice in September 2021, and the hearings took place in October 2021 in The Hague.[10]

Background

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Main article: Second Nagorno-Karabakh War

Renewed hostilities between Azerbaijan and Artsakh together with Armenia began on 27 September 2020. Many territories passed under the control of Azerbaijan during the following six weeks which culminated in the capture of the strategically important town Shusha (known also as Shushi) and prompted the two sides to agree to a ceasefire agreement on 9 November 2020.[11][12] According to the agreement, both belligerent parties agreed to exchange prisoners of war and the dead.[13]

Abuse and torture

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Further information: War crimes in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War

On 19 March 2021, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that Azerbaijani Armed Forces abused Armenian POWs of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. Human Rights Watch called on the Azerbaijani authorities to investigate the cases of ill-treatment and bring those responsible to justice. The organization also called on the Azerbaijani side to "immediately release all remaining POWs" and detained civilians and "provide information on the whereabouts" of military personnel and civilians whose status is unknown.[2]

Human Rights Watch also examined more than 20 videos posted on social media of scenes in which Azerbaijani officers clearly mistreat Armenian POWs.[2]

Testimony of POWs

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Human Rights Watch

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Human Rights Watch interviewed four Armenian POWs who described in detail their mistreatment in detention, as well as the mistreatment of other POWs with whom they were taken prisoner or in the same cell. One of the Armenian POWs said that he was stabbed with a sharp metal rod. In the first days of detention, POWs were given very little water and almost no food.[2]

One of the Armenian POWs, who was 19 years old, said to Human Rights Watch that he was tied up, handcuffed and thrown into the back of the car, face down. an Azerbaijani serviceman burnt his hands with what he described as a "windproof lighter", which was also used to heat up a metal rod and poke him in the back with the rod. the prisoner also told about that effect this abuse had on him and its continuation in the hospital:[2]

Another 20-year-old Armenian POW, who was captured on 20 October 2021 in the Hadrut Province, along with eight other soldiers, was beaten by the Azerbaijani military:[2]

“They started beating us straight away and kept it up for three hours or so. Their commanding officers told them not to. But whenever those officers weren’t around, the beating resumed… They gave a spade to one of ours and told him to go dig his grave. He was so frightened he started digging.”

All three POWs said that they were handcuffed to a radiator and had no mattresses or blankets. They were not given food or water and received no medical attention for their injuries. Azerbaijani officers beat the Armenian POWs with fists, feet and wooden rods.

One of the Armenian POWs said about his detention in Baku that he almost did not sleep there. He would get assaulted and beaten by a group of guards, numbering two to four, as soon as he spelt. One of them broke a wooden rod on him, hitting him so badly that he temporarily lost the use of one of his arms. On his fourth day there, he was beaten so badly that two of his ribs broke.[2]

Another 31-year-old Armenian POW detailed their repeated beatings; they were beaten nonstop for one and a half hour, pushed into the ground, punched, and kicked, two or three guards "working" on each of them. once in his cell with another prisoner from his group, guards would come and beat them several times a day. the prisoner stated that they weren't interrogated during their abuse and instead were asked questions like "why did you join fighting".[2]

The four POWs were interrogated by Azerbaijani special services for several weeks. During interrogations, they were all beaten with fists, kicked and hit with truncheons. One of the POWs, Tigran, said that he was twice tortured with electric current. The first time, the torture lasted about 40 minutes, and each time he fainted from pain, he was brought to his senses and given new electric shocks. In the second case, the torture lasted approximately 10 minutes.[2]

The guards went into his cell every day to kick and beat the POWs. Hovhannes said that they were hitting him even in front of the doctor, who changed his bandages, he was beaten every day.[2]

Maral Najarian and Viken Euljekjian

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Maral Najarian and her fiancé Viken Euljekjian were captured on 10 November 2020, on their way to Shushi, unaware that the city had been captured by Azerbaijani Armed Forces. According to Maral, they were handcuffed and searched and their phones, car and passports were confiscated. After two hours of detainment, guards began to beat Euljekjian. Later they were moved to a military prison and then to Baku under the pretext of handing them to the Red Cross, only to be moved to another prison, which Najarian believes to be Gobustan Prison. That was the last time Najarian had seen Euljekjian, bruised and with open wounds on his wrists.[14]

Najarian was released on 10 March 2021, through mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross.[14] while Euljekjian was sentenced to 20 year in prison in Azerbaijan under the pretence of "terrorism".[15]

Videos depicting abuse

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There are hundreds of videos that depict abuses against Armenian prisoners online, both military and civilian, 35 of whom have been identified through video evidence as of 15 December 2021.[16]

Execution

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Hadrut Execution

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On 15 October 2020, a video surfaced of two captured Armenians being executed by Azerbaijani soldiers;[6] Artsakh authorities identified one as a civilian.[17] Bellingcat analysed the videos and concluded that the footage was real and that both executed were Armenian combatants captured by Azerbaijani forces between 9 and 15 October 2020 and later executed.[6] The BBC also investigated the videos and confirmed that the videos were from Hadrut and were filmed some time between 9–15 October 2020. A probe has been launched by Armenia's human rights defender, Arman Tatoyan, who shared the videos with European Court of Human Rights and who will also show the videos to the UN human rights commissioner, the Council of Europe and other international organizations.[18] The U.N. human rights chief, Michelle Bachelet, stated that "in-depth investigations by media organisations into videos that appeared to show Azerbaijani troops summarily executing two captured Armenians in military uniforms uncovered compelling and deeply disturbing information".[19]

Others

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On 10 December, Amnesty International released a report on videos depicting war crimes. In some of these videos, Azerbaijani soldiers were seen decapitating an Armenian soldier as he was alive. In another video, the victim is an older man in civilian clothes who gets his throat cut before the video abruptly ends.[20]

Beheadings of two elderly ethnic Armenian Civilians by Azerbaijani armed forces have been identified by The Guardian.[16]

Repatriation after the war

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Armenian prisoners of war returning to Yerevan in February 2021. The photo was published by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.[21]

In December 2020, Armenia and Azerbaijan have begun exchanging groups of prisoners of war mediated by Russia.[22] As of February 2022, 150 prisoners, including civilians, returned to Armenia and Artsakh.[23]

Number of Armenian POWs returned since the signing of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement[a]
Date Number of POWs Mediated by Ref.
October 28, 2020 (2020-10-28) 1 Russia
December 4, 2020 (2020-12-04) 2 Russia
December 9, 2020 (2020-12-09) 4 Russia
December 12, 2020 (2020-12-12) 2 Russia
December 14, 2020 (2020-12-14) 44 Russia [24]
December 15, 2020 (2020-12-15) 1 Russia [24]
December 28, 2020 (2020-12-28) 4 Russia [25]
January 28, 2021 (2021-01-28) 5 Russia
February 9, 2021 (2021-02-09) 5 Russia
March 10, 2021 1[b] ICRC [14]
May 4, 2021 (2021-05-04) 3 Russia
June 9, 2021 (2021-06-09) 1 Russia
June 12, 2021 (2021-06-12) 15[c] Georgia [27]
July 3, 2021 (2021-07-03) 15[d] Russia [28]
September 7, 2021 (2021-09-07) 2 Russia [28]
September 9, 2021 (2021-09-09) 2 Russia
October 6, 2021 (2021-10-06) 1[e] Russia [29]
October 19, 2021 (2021-10-19) 5 Russia [30]
November 26, 2021 (2021-11-26) 2 Russia
December 4, 2021 (2021-12-04) 10[f] Russia [31]
December 19, 2021 (2021-12-19) 10 European Union [32]
December 29, 2021 (2021-12-29) 6 Hungary [33]
February 7, 2022 (2022-02-07) 8 European Union, France [34]

Reactions

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Armenia and Artsakh

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According to Armenian authorities, as of April 2021, over 200 Armenian POWs were held captive by Azerbaijan.[35]

Armenian diaspora

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Protesters in Geneva demanding the release of Armenian POWs, 15 April 2021

On 14 April 2021, a global campaign was launched among the Armenian diaspora to demand the release of Armenian POWs and other detainees held in Azerbaijan. Protests were held in 14 cities around the world, including Toronto, Paris, Rome, Houston, Sacramento, Montréal, New York, Los Angeles, Warsaw, Berlin, Hamburg and Moscow.[36]

Azerbaijan

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In Azerbaijan, the detainees are not considered POWs, they are instead accused of various crimes allegedly committed after the ceasefire agreement was signed.[37]

International

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Countries

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OSCE Minsk Group

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  • On 13 April 2021, the OSCE Minsk Group, responsible for mediating the peace process in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict since 1992, stated that "additional efforts are required to resolve remaining areas of concern and to create an atmosphere of mutual trust conducive to long-lasting peace", including the return of all POWs and other detainees in accordance with the provisions of international humanitarian law.[47]

European parliament

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On 20 May 2021, the European Parliament adopted a resolution urging Azerbaijan to immediately and unconditionally release all the Armenian prisoners, both military and civilian, detained during or after the conflict.[48]

OHCHR

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On 1 February 2021, UN human rights experts called on both sides for the prompt release of POWs and other captives. They were also concerned by allegations that POWs and other protected persons have been subjected to extrajudicial killing, enforced disappearance, torture and other ill-treatment.[4]

Organization of American States (OAS)

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Secretary General of the Organization of American States Luis Almagro has called for the release of all Armenian prisoners of war.[49][50]

Freedom House

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On 11 May 2021, the human rights organization Freedom House stated it was "deeply concerned by the reports of dehumanizing treatment and abuse, including torture, of Armenians captured and detained by Azerbaijan after the recent armed conflict".[51]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ A number of Armenian prisoners of war were captured after the end of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War.
  2. ^ Maral Najarian
  3. ^ On 12 June 2021, Azerbaijan returned 15 Armenian prisoners of war in exchange for minefield maps in the Agdam District.[26]
  4. ^ On 3 July 2021, Azerbaijan returned 15 Armenian prisoners of war in exchange for minefield maps in Fuzuli and Zangilan districts.
  5. ^ On 6 October 2021, Azerbaijan returned 1 Armenian prisoner of war who crossed the Artsakh border on 22 August 2021.
  6. ^ On 4 December 2021, Azerbaijan returned 10 Armenian prisoners of war captured on 16 November 2021 in exchange for minefield maps in Nagorno-Karabakh.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Azerbaijan: Armenian Prisoners of War Badly Mistreated". hrw.org. Human Rights Watch. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch (19 March 2021). "Azerbaijan: Armenian POWs Abused in Custody". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Доклад Amnesty International 2021/22" (PDF) (in Russian). p. 71. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Nagorno-Karabakh: captives must be released – UN experts". ohchr.org. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  5. ^ a b Tanya Lokshina (12 March 2021). "Survivors of unlawful detention in Nagorno-Karabakh speak out about war crimes". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "An Execution in Hadrut". Bellingcat. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  7. ^ Cassese, Antonio (2013). Cassese's International Criminal Law (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 63–66. ISBN 978-0-19-969492-1. Archived from the original on April 29, 2016. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  8. ^ "Human rights: Chad, Haiti and Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijan". European Parliament. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Armenian soldiers on trial in Azerbaijan". Eurasianet. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  10. ^ "THE HAGUE – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) holds public hearings in the case Armenia v. Azerbaijan". 14 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Armenian President says nation 'misjudged' its negotiating power in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict". SBS News.
  12. ^ "Report: The Anatomy of Genocide – Karabakh's Forty-Four Day War". persecution.org. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Statement by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and President of the Russian Federation". Kremlin.ru. 10 November 2020.
  14. ^ a b c "Maral Najarian's Harrowing Tale of Captivity in Azerbaijan". The Armenian Weekly. 2021-03-31. Retrieved 2022-03-06.
  15. ^ Avedian, Lillian (2021-06-30). "Armenian POWs stand trial". The Armenian Weekly. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  16. ^ a b "Two men beheaded in videos from Nagorno-Karabakh war identified". The Guardian. 15 December 2020.
  17. ^ "Azeri troops shoot Armenian war prisoners dead". Panarmenian. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  18. ^ "Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: 'Execution' video prompts war crime probe". BBC News. 24 October 2020.
  19. ^ "Possible war crimes committed in Nagorno-Karabakh, U.N. rights boss says". Reuters. 2 November 2020.
  20. ^ "Armenia/Azerbaijan: Decapitation and war crimes in gruesome videos must be urgently investigated". amnesty.org. Amnesty International. 10 December 2020.
  21. ^ "Заявление командующего российским миротворческим контингентом генерал-лейтенанта Рустама Мурадова" (in Russian). Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  22. ^ "Armenia and Azerbaijan Exchange First Prisoners After Karabakh War". www,usnews.com. U.S. News & World Report. 2020-12-15.
  23. ^ "Գերիների հարցը․ քանի հոգի, երբ և որ երկրի միջնորդությամբ է վերադարձել հայրենիք" (in Armenian). Union of Informed Citizens. 18 February 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  24. ^ a b "Власти Карабаха: Вернулись 44 пленных, есть ещё много удерживаемых лиц" (in Russian). EADaily. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  25. ^ "Армянские пленные вернулись на родину при посредничестве России и МККК" (in Russian). EADaily. 28 December 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  26. ^ "Конфликт в Карабахе: Азербайджан и Армения разменяли пленных на карты минных полей" (in Russian). BBC News. 13 June 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  27. ^ "Azerbaijan releases 15 Armenian POWs". France 24. 12 June 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  28. ^ a b "Пять армянских военнопленных возвращены на родину" (in Russian). Caucasian Knot. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  29. ^ "Вице-премьер Армении сообщил о возвращении из Азербайджана одного из удерживаемых лиц" (in Russian). TASS. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  30. ^ "Azerbaijan releases 5 Armenian POWs with Russia's mediation — statement". TASS. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  31. ^ "Azerbaijan hands over 10 captured soldiers to Armenia". Reuters. 4 December 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  32. ^ "Azerbaijan Frees 10 More Armenian Prisoners of War". Voice of America. 19 December 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  33. ^ "Az örmény egyházfő köszönetet mondott Orbán Viktornak" (in Hungarian). Híradó. 7 January 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  34. ^ "Azerbaijan releases eight Armenian prisoners after French-EU mediation". France 24. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  35. ^ "Silent protest in Los Angeles demands release of Armenian POWs". armradio.am. Public Radio of Armenia. 2021-04-16.
  36. ^ "Protesters in Geneva demand release of Armenian POWs". www.armradio.am. Public Radio of Armenia. 2021-04-15.
  37. ^ Olga Prosvirova (7 July 2021). ""Бьют, издеваются, но у меня все хорошо". Что рассказывают вернувшиеся из азербайджанских тюрем армянские военные" (in Russian). BBC News. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  38. ^ "Лавров призвал Азербайджан освободить армянских военнопленных" (in Russian). RIA Novosti. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  39. ^ "AMENDMENT TO RULES COMM. PRINT 117 13 OFFERED BY MR. CARDENAS OF CALIFORNIA" (PDF). amendments-rules.house.gov. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  40. ^ "US Congress demands release of all Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan". news.am. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  41. ^ "Foreign Policy CAN". Twitter. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  42. ^ "Canada calls for release of all Armenian captives". Armenpress. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  43. ^ "MFA Luxembourg". Twitter. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  44. ^ "Luxembourg calls for immediate release of Armenian POWs". Public Radio of Armenia. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  45. ^ "Spanish MPs and Senators demand the release Armenian POWs". news.am. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  46. ^ "Dutch parliament passes motion calling on government to recognise Armenian Genocide". Barnabas Fund. 2 March 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  47. ^ "Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group". osce.org. Moscow, Paris, Washington: OSCE Minsk Group. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  48. ^ "Résolution du Parlement européen sur les prisonniers de guerre à la suite du dernier conflit entre l'Arménie et l'Azerbaïdjan". www.europarl.europa.eu (in French). 20 May 2021.
  49. ^ "Luis Almagro". Twitter. 21 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  50. ^ "Luis Almagro calls for release of Armenian POWs". Public Radio of Armenia. 22 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  51. ^ "Azerbaijan: Allow Human Rights Court to Investigate Reports of Detainee Torture". Freedom House. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
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