Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

The British government has said it doesn’t recognize the so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" and its "court".

Baroness Anelay of St John’s, Minister of State of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office made the remark in response to a question by Lord Kilclooney, according to a message from The European Azerbaijan Society (TEAS).

“Lord Kilclooney’s question was about the fate of two Azerbaijani civilians Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilgam Asgarov, who were ambushed and captured by Armenian armed forces whilst trying to tend the graves of their relatives in the occupied territories,” the message read.

As well as dismissing the “Nagorno-Karabakh Republic”, Baroness Anelay also stated that the British government “does not recognize the legal framework of the court proceedings in question”.

She also said the British government had raised the question of the two hostages with the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Armenian special forces killed Azerbaijani citizen Hasan Hasanov and took hostage Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilgam Asgarov in the Shaplar village of the occupied Kalbajar region on July 11, while they were visiting the graves of their relatives. Following the so-called “judicial process" Dilgam Asgarov was sentenced to life imprisonment, and Shahbaz Guliyev to 22 years in prison.

Following the so-called “judicial process" Dilgam Asgarov was sentenced to life imprisonment, and Shahbaz Guliyev to 22 years in prison.

Despite repeated calls by the international organizations and foreign countries on Armenia to return the captives back to their country, nothing has been made in this regard so far.

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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SaraRajabova

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