Ombudsman: Fate of about 4,000 Azerbaijanis missing since First Garabagh War still unknown

Azerbaijan’s Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) Sabina Aliyeva has said that the fate of about 4,000 Azerbaijanis missing since the First Karabakh War remains unknown.

She made the remarks addressing the general meeting on the Khojaly genocide of the Association of Ombudsmen of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul, Report informs, citing the Ombudsman’s Office.

Aliyeva noted that landmines planted by Armenia in the liberated lands of Azerbaijan continue to claim the lives of Azerbaijani servicemen and civilians.

According to her, more than 300 people have become victims of Armenian landmine terror to this day.

Referring to the Khojaly tragedy committed 31 years ago, the ombudsman said that this genocide is evidence of the ethnic cleansing policy, which led to a gross violation of the rights and freedoms enshrined in international documents.

Aliyeva emphasised the necessity of international political and legal assessment of the Khojaly genocide to restore justice.

At the end of the meeting, Aliyeva was again elected a member of the Board of the OIC Ombudsmen Association.