The Human Rights Defender of Armenia Mr. Arman
Tatoyan and the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Artsakh Mr. Gegham
Stepanyan hosted the Rappeurture appointed by the Committee on Migration,
Refugees and Population of PACE, Mr. Paul Gavan and the PACE Migration
Committee Secretary Mr. Mark Neville, who are in the Republic of Armenia for
the preparatory work of the report titled “The humanitarian consequences of the
conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan".
Mr. Arman Tatoyan emphasized the importance of
the CoE Rappeurture’s initiative and visit to Armenia. The Human Rights
Defender also emphasized the importance of the visit of the Rappeurture to the border
areas of the Gegharkunik and Syunik regions, since the report would not be
objective and complete without getting acquainted with the situation created on
the ground and holding meetings with the border residents.
In his turn, the Human Rights Ombudsman of the
Republic of Artsakh Mr. Gegham Stepanyan noted that international human rights
organizations should visit Artsakh to protect the rights of the people living
there. The PACE has resolutions through which it considers the protection of
human rights important in the territory of the CoE, irrespective of the
recognition of the independence of a state. G. Stepanyan also referred to the
Azerbaijani policy of isolating Artsakh; however, the international community
should consider that the political status of a territory should not have an
effect on the protection of human rights (women, children, persons with
disabilities, etc.).
Mr. Arman Tatoyan and Mr. Gegham Stepanyan
presented the war crimes committed by the Azerbaijani armed forces during the September-November
2020 war.
The analysis of around 300 videos and photos
of Azerbaijani atrocities against Armenian servicemen and civilians, the
destruction and desecration of the Armenian historical, cultural and religious
heritage, and the use of banned weapons were sent to international
organizations.
The Human Rights Defenders of Armenia and
Artsakh underlined that the highest bodies of the Azerbaijani authorities
continue the policy of Armenophobia and enmity towards Armenians. This is
evidenced, for example, by the opening of the so-called
"exhibition-park" in Baku on the September-November 2020 war.
Moreover, the fact the Azerbaijani crimes against Armenians are ethnically
motivated, and encouraged the authorities, is also confirmed by a number of
ECtHR decisions.
Mr. Arman Tatoyan called the attention of the
PACE representatives on the Armenophobic speeches of the President of
Azerbaijan, and stressed that those speeches further incite Armenophobia in the
Azerbaijani society. Within this context, the Defender presented the most used
Armenophobic statements of the President of Azerbaijan, and showed videos
depicting certain representatives of the Azerbaijani armed forces using the
same terminologies while torturing Armenian servicemen and civilians.
During the meeting, Mr. Arman Tatoyan and Mr.
Gegham Stepanyan referred to the urgency of the return of the Armenian captives
in Azerbaijan, noting that the policy of the Azerbaijani authorities grossly
violates the international requirements of the protection of the rights of the
captives, and has caused mental suffering to their relatives.
It was specifically emphasized that the
Azerbaijani authorities are artificially protracting and politicizing the
process of release and return of the captives.
Defender of Armenia Mr. Arman Tatoyan referred
to the tense situation on the borders of the Gegharkunik and Syunik regions.
The Defender presented the results of the fact-finding activities of the Office
in the Gegharkunik and Syunik regions, in relation to the gross violations of
the rights of the border residents of Armenia as a result of the illegal
presence of Azerbaijani armed servicemen in the sovereign territory of Armenia
since May12, 2021
Presenting the illegal actions of the
Azerbaijani armed forces, A. Tatoyan concluded that the evidences obtained by
the Defender of Human Rights of Armenia confirm the absolute necessity of
creating a security zone to ensure the rights of the border residents of
Armenia, as proposed by the Defender.
The Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of
Artsakh called the attention of the PACE Rappeurture on the humanitarian
situation in Artsakh after the war, noting that 120 Artsakh communities remain
under Azerbaijani control, and more than 38,000 persons have been displaced
from those communities, including 11,000 children. A part of the displaced
population, around 13,000 persons have returned to Artsakh, while 25,000
persons are outside the territories of Artsakh.
Gegham Stepanyan presented the issues related
to the minimum living conditions and the social situation of the displaced
persons, and underlined the urgent need for international humanitarian
assistance. The Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Artsakh referred to
the policy of destroying the Armenian cultural and religious heritage in the
areas under Azerbaijani control, presenting concrete examples.
The Human Rights Defenders of Armenia and
Artsakh emphasized the role of the bodies of the CoE in the restoration of
human rights in the post-war period and prevention of new atrocities.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties
reached an agreement of future collaboration.
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