Azerbaijan HRC urges ICRC to take measures to release Azerbaijani teenager
By Sara Rajabova
Azerbaijan's Human Rights Commissioner has appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to pave the way for releasing an Azerbaijani teenager held captive by Armenian armed forces.
Elmira Suleymanova has sent a letter to the head of the Azerbaijani representation of the International Committee of the Red Cross on the recent hostage-taking of teenager Javid Mammadov, the press service of the Ombudsman's office said September 9.
Azerbaijani citizen, 15-year-old Javid Mammadov was taken hostage by Armenian soldiers near the village of Chayli in the Tartar region on September 5.
"Despite a ceasefire agreement between two sides, the Armenian military units regularly violate the terms of this agreement. They also commit mass arson, and inflict damages to the civilian population by opening fire on the border villages. Hostage-taking of civilians poses a threat to people's lives, violates their right of residence, freedom of movement and other rights," Suleymanova said.
She noted that this violates the provisions of international documents on defense of human rights, civilian population, children, women, and the elderly during military conflicts and the continuation of such cases creates numerous precedents of impunity.
"Impunity creates conditions for new crimes against humanity, so that the civilian population will always be in danger," Suleymanova warned.
Given this, the Ombudsman asked to ensure the safety of Mammadov, observe the international legal regulations, and prevent torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, as well as to assist in the speedy return to his family.
The Armenian media reported on September 9 that the authorities of so-called separatist "Nagorno Karabakh Republic" are ready to hand over the captive to the Azerbaijani side.
The ICRC representatives also visited two Azerbaijani citizens detained by Armenian armed forces in the occupied Kalbajar region, Armenian media reported.
Three Azerbaijani civilians (Russian citizen Dilgam Asgarov, Azerbaijani citizens Shahbaz Guliyev and Hasan Hasanov) were detained by Armenian forces in early July while they were visiting the graves of their late relatives. ICRC Baku office earlier reported that Hasan Hasanov was buried in Nagorno-Karabakh after being killed by Armenian forces.
Previously, Armenian media reported that a criminal case was filed against the Azerbaijani hostages.
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.
Azerbaijani State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing People said releasing the Azerbaijani citizens is on the top of the list of its priorities.