UK foreign office urges Armenia to treat Azerbaijani PoWs in accordance with international law

UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) responded to a letter from the Azerbaijani community operating in the country regarding Azerbaijani soldiers Agshin Babirov and Hussein Akhundov being held captive in Armenia.

The letter addressed to the chairman of the Society of British Azerbaijanis Farida Panahova expressed gratitude for the information provided about the Armenian authorities' inhuman treatment of both Azerbaijani soldiers, Report informs.

“FCDO is committed to promoting universal human rights. We call on states to ensure that prisoners are treated according to international human rights law. This includes humane treatment and respect for the dignity of personal identity, as required by Article 10 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

States must take steps to ensure minimum guarantees for the humane treatment of persons under their care. This includes providing services related to the primary and basic needs of prisoners of war (PoWs). The UK government regularly raises human rights issues with various partners, including Armenia," the letter emphasizes.

It should be noted that the servicemen of the Azerbaijani army - Babirov Agshin Gabil oglu (born 2004) and Akhundov Huseyn Ahliman oglu (born 2003) - went missing on April 9 in the Shahbuz region of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic on the border with Armenia due to limited visibility due to adverse weather conditions.

Later, the Armenian side admitted that the Azerbaijani servicemen were with them. Photographs and video footage of the ill-treatment of one of them were also published.

On May 8, A. Babirov was sentenced by the court to 11.5 years in prison on fabricated charges.