Baku condemns Armenia’s "trial" of Azerbaijani captured servicemen

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the so-called "trial" organised in Armenia over the Azerbaijani Army servicemen Agshin Babirov and Huseyn Akhundov, who went missing in early April this year in the Shahbuz region of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic on the border with Armenia and were taken captive by Armenia.

The ministry also condemned the so-called "decision" of Armenia to arrest Agshin Babirov, Caliber.Az reports, citing the ministry.

"By subjecting Azerbaijani soldiers to brutal physical torture, Armenia is also subjecting them to moral and psychological torture through such 'trials'.

With such irresponsible behaviour, Armenia once again demonstrates that it ignores the legal responsibilities it bears under international humanitarian law, as well as the calls of the international community for the release of hostages and the principles of humanity.

The fact that the Armenian side, by its step, did not show reciprocity in connection with the confidence-building measures taken by our country, immediately and without any preconditions returning the Armenian hostages, in particular, more than 10 servicemen who, having lost their way, crossed the border with Azerbaijan, indicates that Armenia is not interested in measures to establish peace and confidence in the region. Responsibility for undermining efforts to build trust with such an approach lies entirely with the Armenian side.

Armenia must put an end to these activities, which are accompanied by gross violations of international humanitarian law, and immediately release the hostages.

We call on the entire international community, relevant international organisations and non-governmental organisations to exert serious influence and pressure on Armenia to release our captured soldiers and reunite them with their families as soon as possible," the statement reads.