UN Committee against Torture is alarmed by extra-judicial killings,  torture and ill-treatment of Armenians by Azerbaijanis during armed  conflicts

ArmInfo. The UN Committee against Torture (CAT) has published findings on the implementation of the  Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment by Austria, Azerbaijan, Finland, Honduras, Liechtenstein and North Macedonia.

The UN Committee against Torture (CAT) today issued its findings on  Austria, Azerbaijan, Finland, Honduras, Liechtenstein, and North  Macedonia, after reviewing the six States parties in its latest  session.

According to the website of the Office of the United Nations High  Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the findings contain the  Committee's main concerns and recommendations on each country's  implementation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel,  Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. 

Regarding Azerbaijan, key highlights include: "The Committee was  alarmed by alleged extra-judicial killings, torture, and  ill-treatment of national and ethnic Armenians during armed conflict  and anti-terrorism operations, and the perceived lack of  investigations and prosecutions of these allegations. It also  expressed concerns over the continued detention of 23 individuals of  Armenian ethnic or national origin for terrorism and related  offences. The Committee urged Azerbaijan to state at the highest  levels that any violations of international humanitarian law and  human rights law are unacceptable. It also called for independent,  impartial, transparent, and effective investigations into the  allegations of serious violations and urged the State party to bring  those responsible to justice.

The Committee was concerned about allegations that human rights  defenders and journalists continue to face physical and judicial  harassment, and in some cases, are subjected to torture and  ill-treatment in Azerbaijan. It was troubled by the shrinking civic  space in the country, recalling that a free and vibrant civil society  was key to prevention of torture and ill-treatment. The Committee  called on the State party to ensure an enabling environment for human  rights defenders and journalists to carry out their work, free from  threats, reprisals, violence, and other forms of harassment."

Let us note that the exact number of Armenian prisoners of war and  hostages held in Azerbaijani prisons is still not known. According to  experts, there are several hundred of them. Among those held in  Azerbaijani captivity are 8 former and current representatives of the  military-political leadership of Artsakh. These are former Presidents  of Artsakh Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arayik Harutyunyan,  former Minister of Foreign Affairs David Babayan, as well as Speaker  of Parliament David Ishkhanyan, ex-commander of the Artsakh Defense  Army, General Levon Mnatsakanyan, General David Manukyan and  ex-Minister of State Ruben Vardanyan.

During the 2020 aggression against Artsakh and subsequent attacks,  Azerbaijan committed war crimes.  Hundreds of horrifying video  footage of torture of Armenians, including women and the elderly,  have spread around the World Wide Web.