ICRC negotiates with Azerbaijani authorities to visit 77-year old Armenian hostage

YEREVAN, JANUARY 29, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani side made another anti-humanistic step by taking and spreading photos of a helpless old man and introducing him as a saboteur. In a conversation with “Armenpress” the first Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia, the Chairperson of “Against Illegal Arbitrariness” NGO Larisa Alaverdyan stated that Azerbaijan’s attitude towards the resident of the border village of Upper Karmiraghbyur of Armenia’s Tavush Province is beyond sound reasoning. Also, Larisa Alaverdyan underscored: “This is a peculiar case. We are negatively surprised at the Azerbaijanis again. They took and spread photos of a helpless man, who doesn’t look like a saboteur or a saboteur‘s accomplice at all. When a man appears in such a situation, I first of all think about the state of his mind and feelings. They spread disinformation.”

Among other things Larisa Alaverdyan noted with regret that in the beginning the Azerbaijani side did not announce anything about the injuries of the man, who crossed the border, but only later they announced that he received injuries. “Here we encounter the issue of the OSCE’s and Minsk Group’s interference. In this respect a flagrant violation of humanitarian law has been recorded and the ceasefire regime violations have recently been increased. The Minsk Group must stop the patrol policy and make statements, which correspond to the reality,” Larisa Alaverdyan emphasized.

The Head of Communication Programs of the Yerevan Office of the International Committee of the Red Cross Zara Amatuni stated that the Baku Office of the international organization in negotiating with the relevant authorities to visit the Armenian hostage. Notwithstanding, no agreement has been reached upon regarding the time of the visit yet.