Azerbaijani MFA responds to US statement on alleged human rights violations in Karabakh

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada has said that a statement made by the US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Dafna Rand, during the Warsaw Conference on Human Dimension on October 1, has sparked surprise in Azerbaijan.

Rand noted that “the United States continues to assess alleged violations of international humanitarian law and human rights in Nagorno-Karabakh,” according to Caliber.Az.

Hajizada expressed disappointment over the US stance.

"It is noteworthy that despite the large-scale crimes against humanity committed by Armenia during the military occupation of Azerbaijani territories and the mass killings of Azerbaijanis, the US is only now addressing the importance of addressing violations of international humanitarian law. For nearly 30 years, the United States turned a blind eye to Armenia's crimes," the spokesperson said.

Hajizade further stressed that if the US aims to show impartiality and fairness, it must first demand an investigation into Armenia's numerous crimes and hold those responsible accountable.

"Otherwise, this is nothing more than a one-sided statement resulting from Armenian propaganda, aimed at confusing the international community and distracting attention from Armenia's gross violations of the fundamental human rights and freedoms of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis during its aggression," he added. 

By Khagan Isayev