YEREVAN. – Armenian Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan on Tuesday received a delegation led by Nils Muižnieks, the Council of Europe (CoE) Commissioner for Human Rights.
The minister briefed the CoE commissioner on the ongoing human rights reforms, and reflected on the training and awareness raising programs in the Armenian Armed Forces. He also spoke about gender equality in the army and the respective activities.
In turn, the CoE Commissioner for Human Rights noted that he gives a high assessment to these reforms, and expressed satisfaction with the progress that has been achieved in the implementation of alternative service in Armenia.
The interlocutors also discussed human rights violations in the region. In this connection, the Armenian defense minister presented details on the case involving Armenian military serviceman Hakob Injighulyan, who was held captive in Azerbaijan for more than a year, subsequently transferred to a third country, and who ultimately returned to Armenia on October 2, 2014.
Ohanyan noted that the actions taken against Injighulyan in Azerbaijan show that this country’s authorities have developed a specific policy of subjecting captive soldiers to psychological pressures, torture, and death threats.