Relatives of Azerbaijani hostages demand ICRC to gain their release
By Jamila Babayeva
Relatives of Azerbaijani civilians taken hostage by Armenians in Azerbaijan's occupied Kalbajar region held a protest action in front of the building of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRС) Baku office on July 23.
Firuza Asgerova, spouse of hostage Dilgam Asgerov addressed the protest action demanding from the ICRC a speedy release of her husband.
The participants expressed concern over the ICRC's fail to organize meeting with the Azerbaijani hostages so far and stated that they will continue protest until their relatives are released.
Three Azerbaijani civilians (reportedly Russian citizen Dilgam Ahmadov and Azerbaijani citizens Shahbaz Guliyev and Hasan Hasanov) were detained by Armenian forces in early July. There is no information about them so far.
Armenia violated the international legal norms by taking hostage the Azerbaijani civilians as they didn't violate any border law between Armenia and Azerbaijan. They were on their own native Kalbajar region which has been under Armenia's occupation since 1993.
Earlier, ICRC Baku office reported that it is in contact with conflicting sides. ICRC Yerevan office also said that it is negotiating to organize a meeting with the Azerbaijani hostages.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Refugees and IDPs Ali Hasanov reported that soon Azerbaijan and the ICRC will make a joint statement on the murder of one of the Azerbaijanis taken hostage in Kalbajar region.