Ombudsman's office: Armenia denied family contact for Azerbaijani detainees

Azerbaijan upheld its obligations during the Second Karabakh War by enabling contact between Armenian Prisoners of war (POWs) and their families, while Armenia denied the same to detained Azerbaijanis, said, Deputy Head of Azerbaijan's Ombudsman’s Office.

During the seminar “Application of International Humanitarian Law: Positive Experiences and Challenges,” marking the Geneva Conventions' 75th anniversary, he highlighted that Azerbaijani detainees in Armenia were denied family contact until their repatriation, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

“International norms must be fully observed, and the opposing side was obligated to fulfil its commitments. States are required to ensure the rights of detainees at both national and international levels. In Azerbaijan, detainees were granted access to the Ombudsman,” Rumzade noted.

He further highlighted that between 2021 and 2023, the Ombudsman’s Office and the National Preventive Group conducted a total of 732 visits to detention centres.

“We visited detention facilities, assessed conditions, and confidentially addressed detainees’ concerns. In 2021, there were 184 visits, in 2022, 201 visits, and in 2023, 347 visits,” Rumzade clarified.

By Aghakazim Guliyev