Azerbaijan uses military-political leaders of Artsakh in captivity to  achieve its propaganda goals - statement

ArmInfo.As a result of the long-term policy of genocide pursued by Azerbaijan, the fundamental  norms of human rights, established not only within the framework of national legislation, but also in a number of international legal acts, were grossly violated and continue to be violated to this day, reads a statement by non-governmental organizations for the protection of human rights , forcibly displaced from Artsakh, in  connection with Azerbaijan's planned screening of a fake film on March 28 with the participation of the captive military-political leadership of the NKR.

The statement recalls that during the 44-day war of 2020 and the  military actions launched by Azerbaijan against the Republic of  Artsakh on September 19, 2023, weapons and cluster missiles  prohibited by international documents were used against the civilian  population.

"As a result of these and other atrocities, several civilians were  killed and injured to varying degrees, including small children,  elderly people and pregnant women.

More than a dozen of our compatriots, including former military and  political leaders of the Republic of Artsakh, were captured by  Azerbaijan. Taking advantage of the vulnerable position of prisoners,  Azerbaijan uses them to achieve its propaganda goals. In particular,  an announcement of a fake and fabricated film was shown in  Azerbaijan, based on forced interviews with captured military and  political leaders of the Republic of Artsakh, which the Azerbaijani  authorities called "Antiterror"," the statement said.

At the same time, it is emphasized that this anti-Armenian policy of  Azerbaijan, as well as illegal actions against prisoners, violate the  fundamental provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,  the European Convention on Human Rights and the Convention concerning  the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

"Based on the above, we call on the government of the Republic of  Armenia, the UN Security Council, the European Union, the Council of  Europe and the embassies operating in the Republic of Armenia to take  effective measures for the speedy release of all persons captured by  Azerbaijan.

In addition, prior to the release of all prisoners, to prevent any  exploitation of their vulnerability, including for propaganda  purposes; do not allow the screening of a film based on false and  fabricated information," the statement emphasizes.

Earlier, Azerbaijan announced an interview with the captured leaders  of Artsakh.