Saturday, October 14 2023 14:20

ArmInfo. Azerbaijan is also responsible for ensuring that its armed forces comply with international law, including international humanitarian law, which governs the conduct of combat operations, the protection of civilians and the humane treatment of participants in combat operations. The Voice of America reports, citing a statement from the US State Department.

"Baku is responsible for protecting civilians and ensuring humane  treatment of everyone, including those it suspects of participating  in combat operations," the source says.

In response to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's warning  published in Politico yesterday that "a small group of lawmakers last  week that his department is tracking the possibility that Azerbaijan  could soon invade Armenia, according to two people familiar with the  conversation", the State Department emphasized that the United States  continues to cooperate with the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia at  the highest levels, striving for a decent and a lasting peace where  the rights of all are respected.

"The use of force is unacceptable, and direct dialogue is essential  to resolving this protracted conflict," the statement noted.

In addition, the State Department noted that the United States is  facilitating the efforts of the Armenian government in close  cooperation with humanitarian organizations to help find refuge and  comfort for forcibly displaced citizens of Artsakh in Armenia. "We  express our sympathy to the forcibly displaced citizens, recognizing  the shock and trauma they are going through and the uncertainty they  face," the department noted.

During ethnic cleansing by Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh),  a number of high-ranking NKR officials were illegally detained:  former Minister of State of Artsakh Ruben Vardanyan,  former deputy  commander of the Armed Forces of Artsakh, General David Manukyan,  former commander of the Artsakh Autonomous Region, General Levon  Mnatsakanyan, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh David  Babayan, former President of the Republic of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan  (2007-2020), former President of the Republic of Artsakh Arkady  Ghukasyan (1997-2007), Speaker of the National Assembly of Artsakh  David Ishkhanyan, former President of the Republic of Artsakh (2020-  2023), former Minister of State (2007-2018) Arayik Harutyunyan. In  addition, since 2020, several hundred Armenian prisoners of war and  civilians have been in Azerbaijani captivity.