Azerbaijan condemns UK MPs for backing Armenia’s war criminals

Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis (Parliament) has issued a strong rebuke to the UK Parliamentary Group on Armenia, following its recent appeal to the UK government regarding the treatment of individuals connected to the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Fariz Ismayilzada, head of the Azerbaijan-UK Inter-Parliamentary Working Group, sent a formal letter of protest, rejecting what he described as "baseless accusations" against Azerbaijan's efforts to bring to justice those responsible for war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and military aggression committed during Armenia's 30-year occupation of Azerbaijani territories, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The letter emphasized that referring to these individuals as "prisoners of war" and advocating for their release "means ignoring their crimes," which the Azerbaijani government asserts are backed by substantial evidence. "These actions, including the forcible expulsion of nearly one million Azerbaijanis, the Khojaly genocide, and acts of urbanicide and ecocide, are well-documented," Ismayilzada said in the letter.

The letter also highlighted the significant environmental and cultural damage inflicted during the occupation. Azerbaijani towns and villages were destroyed, and Armenia's actions resulted in extensive damage to cultural and religious heritage sites, as well as the environment. Additionally, the letter drew attention to the ongoing threat posed by landmines, which have turned Azerbaijan into one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. These mines continue to claim civilian lives and impede the return of displaced individuals to their homes and the country's reconstruction efforts.

Azerbaijan’s lawmakers also pointed out the grim fate of approximately 4,000 missing Azerbaijanis, including women and children, whose whereabouts remain unknown since the occupation period.

The protest letter also addressed the issue of Armenian leaders who have long supported ethnic hatred towards Azerbaijanis. Ismayilzada noted that former Armenian presidents had publicly justified the expulsion of Azerbaijanis and the Khojaly genocide. Despite these crimes, Ismayilzada stressed, no Armenian leaders have been held accountable.

Finally, Ismayilzada clarified that Azerbaijan has held trials for individuals involved in war crimes, emphasizing that these trials have been conducted in accordance with Azerbaijani law. The trials, he said, were transparent, with proper legal representation provided and no complaints of ill-treatment raised.

By Vafa Guliyeva