Armenia`s MFA issues statement on Baku sham trials 

ArmInfo.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia continues to draw the attention of the international community, particularly of partners interested in peace in the region and valuing humanitarian  principles, to the issue of the release of Armenian prisoners of war, hostages and other detained individuals held in Azerbaijan. It also highlights the staged trials against some of them, which are being conducted with gross procedural violations and clear signs of torture.

There is deep concern over the publications of photos and videos from  the "trials" of 23 Armenian prisoners of war, hostages and other  detainees, as well as the alarming reports from their lawyers  regarding coercion, torture and the evident deterioration of their  health, including that of Ruben Vardanyan, who is currently on a  hunger strike.

This pattern of conduct is further substantiated by the concerns  expressed by the UN Committee Against Torture, the documented cases  of torture of Armenian prisoners of war reported by the Human Rights  Watch and other organizations, as well as Azerbaijan's persistent  evasion of coordinated cooperation with international bodies,  including the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and  Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The Government of  Armenia continues to receive reports of the use of prohibited  measures against Armenian prisoners of war, hostages and other  detainees.

Armenian prisoners of war, hostages and other detainees are being  unlawfully held in Azerbaijan in blatant disregard of its commitments  and international obligations. Their detention and persecution  constitute a gross violation of international humanitarian law and  fundamental human rights. A mere listing of the relevant  international multilateral documents includes the Universal  Declaration of Human Rights, The International Covenant on Civil and  Political Rights, The Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel,  Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Geneva Convention IV  (1949) and European Convention on Human Rights.

It is evident that the Azerbaijani authorities are using this  judicial spectacle as a tool for political pressure on the Republic  of Armenia and for manipulation within society, given the sensitivity  of the issue for every family member and the entire society.

It is particularly noteworthy that these processes are taking place  amid the continued propaganda of ethnic hatred against Armenians in  Azerbaijani media. 

Above everything and first of all, the comprehensive settlement of  any conflict includes preparing peoples for peace, while the  additional and artificial prolongation of unresolved humanitarian  issues does not serve this purpose, to say the least, and only  reduces the likelihood of such resolution. This understanding has  been repeatedly emphasized during discussions with Azerbaijan, as  well as on various international platforms by partners and  organizations. We expect that this understanding will also prevail in  the perceptions of the Azerbaijani authorities over the continuous  fueling of hostility and short-term calculations.

In the absence of a final resolution to the issue, Armenia cannot  remain indifferent or uninvolved therefore, and will continue to  raise the matter on various platforms and in different formats,  expecting solutions and positive progress.