STEPANAKERT. – Spokesperson for the Nagorno-Karabakh Foreign Ministry Ani Sargsyan commented for Armenian News-NEWS.am on the alleged accusations and verdict against NKR citizen Arsen Baghdasaryan.
How would you comment on sentencing NKR citizen Arsen Baghdasryan to 15 years in jail in Azerbaijan?
A farce of a trial against NKR citizen Arsen Baghdasaryan completely fits into the logic of the policy of systematic violations of the international humanitarian law by Azerbaijan. Murders of hostages in captivity, use of prisoners for propaganda and fabrication of criminal cases against them have become a common practice for Azerbaijan.
Gross violations of international humanitarian law on the part of Azerbaijan are a challenge for the entire international community. According to the first article of the Geneva Conventions, the Contracting Parties undertake to respect and to ensure respect for the conventions in all circumstances.
In this regard, we are confident that the international community should use all forms and means of pressure on Azerbaijan to urge the Azerbaijani authorities to fully comply with international humanitarian law, particularly with regard to prisoners of war and hostages.
Azerbaijani side claims that Arsen Baghdasaryan was a serviceman of NKR Defense Army and had an order to pass to the Azerbaijani side of the line of contact in order to mine the trenches.
At the time of detention Arsen Baghdasaryan was dismissed from service for a regular unauthorized abandonment of a military unit and was in civilian clothes. By the way, the absence of weapons was confirmed by the Azerbaijani side. The accusations of the Azerbaijani side, the charges against Arsen Baghdasaryan, are not only groundless, but contrary to common logic.
Even if you take into consideration the version of the Azerbaijani side that Arsen Baghdasaryan was in the service, the actions of the Azerbaijani authorities are contrary to international humanitarian law, which prohibits the trial of combatants for their for participation in hostilities, if they did not committ war crimes. A lawful combatant must be given a POW status upon capture and immunity from criminal prosecution for acts that do not violate the laws and customs of war.
As reported earlier, within the framework of this hastily concocted case, NKR citizen Arsen Baghdasaryan was charged with “sabotage” and sentenced to pretrial detention. The case Arsen Baghdasaryan has become a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. ICRC representatives were not permitted to visit Baghdasaryan during a month and a half from the time of his arrest. Arsen Bagdasaryan was taken captive on December 26, 2014.
