BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 17. Armenia is
blatantly parading its disregard for international laws of war and
for its own obligations, US analyst Irina Tsukerman told Trend
commenting on ill-treatment of Azerbaijani soldier taken hostage by
Armenians.
Azerbaijani Army soldiers Agshin Babirov and Huseyn Akhundov
went missing a few days ago on the territory of the Shahbuz
district of Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic bordering
Armenia, and were captured by Armenia. The photos and videos
published by the mass media of Armenia are clearly evidence the
fact of torturing and other inhuman actions in relation to a
serviceman of Azerbaijan in violation of international legal
documents.
The Prosecutor General’s Office of Azerbaijan has initiated a
criminal case on the fact of torture in Armenia against a
serviceman of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.
“This incident is not just vandalism; it is a violation of the
Geneva Conventions to which Armenia is a signatory. By engaging in
torture and making videos of POWs, Yerevan is blatantly parading
its disregard for international laws of war and for its own
obligations. It should be called on to investigate and punish all
such acts, or else become unwelcome in the international
community,” she said.
The analyst went on to add that the fact that Armenia is
apparently praising such acts and turning a blind eye to the
perpetrators should make its officials persona non grata at
international gatherings such as the recent Summit for Democracy in
Washington.
“Whatever the political process, torture of captives surely goes
against all civic norms,” said Tsukerman.
She also condemned the burning of Azerbaijani flag by an Armenian designer at
the opening ceremony of European Championship in Yerevan.
“This incident likewise is unethical, disruptive, and shows
disrespect for the peace process. The fact that this is allowed to
happen at major public gatherings, at a risk of a fire breaking out
and injury to the participants, speaks ill of the internal
discipline and security. It is certainly not helpful. Let’s hope
Yerevan does not use individual acts of provocations as an excuse
and a fronts for its own sentiments towards the process and takes
decisive action to move forward in good faith,” she concluded.
