Azerbaijan is grossly violating the Geneva convention by dressing the Armenian soldier in Azerbaijani uniform and organising stage-managed interviews for Azerbaijani television, member of the Armenian delegation to PACE Naira Zohrabyan said addressing the Assembly.

“Since 8 August of this year, the Azerbaijani authorities have been holding the Armenian soldier Hakob Injighulyan, who having lost his bearings found himself a prisoner in Azerbaijani territory. It was thought that Azerbaijan, as a member State of the Council of Europe, would at least respect international obligations and standards of international law, including humanitarian law, yet Azerbaijan is grossly violating the Geneva convention by dressing the Armenian soldier in Azerbaijani uniform and organising stage-managed interviews for Azerbaijani television in which he clearly displays traces of physical and psychological violence,” Zohrabyan said.

She noted that despite the efforts of the Red Cross, Azerbaijan is limiting Hakob’s contact with his family.

“The Azerbaijani side replies with absurd information, emphasizing that Hakob is said to have expressed the will to go to a third country. It is clear that that supposed will was imposed on him following physical and psychological violence,” she added.

Armenian delegated stressed that the actions of Azerbaijan, a member State of the Council of Europe, are inadmissible.

“While the Council of Europe continues to keep quiet, the consequences continue to be deplorable. Let us recall the case of the Armenian shepherd Manvel Saribekyan, who, having been taken prisoner, was subject to torture by the Azerbaijanis and whose horribly tortured body was eventually returned to his parents. I repeat unambiguously that Hakob will not have to answer for anything in his country. Let us not allow the gross violation of international law by a member State of the Council of Europe lead once again to an irreversible tragedy. Hakob is still warmly awaited at home, and he must go home.”