YEREVAN, MARCH 2, ARMENPRESS. The Interpol’s National Central Bureau of Azerbaijan released a statement on March 1 addressed to Interpol member states, on issuing international arrest warrants for a group of foreign and Armenian scientists carrying out archeological excavations in Nagorno Karabakh in 2016.

The warrants were issued based on the Azerbaijani Criminal Code’s article 116.0.8-3 (violating international humanitarian norms during conflicts), 165.2.2 (violation of copyright rights), 183.2.1 (looting items of special value), 183.2.2, 281.2 (calls against the state) and 318.02 (illegally crossing the state border of Azerbaijan).

The press service of the Police HQ of Armenia told ARMENPRESS immediately after receiving the statement, the National Central Bureau of Interpol Armenia presented the necessary grounds and clarifications to the general secretariat of Interpol, that the Azerbaijani side is once again attempting to drag Interpol into political issues, which undoubtedly contradicts Interpol’s Charter’s Article 3 (Interpol is strictly not allowed to engage activities or interfere in political, military, religious and racial affairs) and it threatens the reputation of Interpol.

In its turn, the general secretariat of Interpol found the Armenian law enforcement’s information to be grounded, and immediately responded and released statements on the same day to all member states and notified that the information on the abovementioned individuals contradicts the Charter and they cannot be internationally wanted.