STEPANAKERT. – U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland can travel to Stepanakert and make sure that the conditions of detention of Askerov and Guliyev are in accordance with the international norms, spokesperson for Karabakh president Davit Babayan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

According to Azerbaijani media, during her trip to Baku Victoria Nuland allegedly said that “Azerbaijani hostages kept by Armenia must be returned”.

Babayan emphasized that Azerbaijani media outlets have developed a special system of misinformation, tying aspects that are really important for them with really significant events.

“Even if Victoria Nuland made such a statement, it must be emphasized that first of all the mention of Armenia in this regard is wrong and incorrect. We are talking about the citizens of Azerbaijan who were charged with committing a capital crime by the Nagorno-Karabakh authorities. They were named guilty as a result of an open, transparent, impartial trial that was widely reported in the media. Moreover, the citizens who were found guilty had an opportunity to appeal the decision. They took advantage of this opportunity, which is another testimony to the commitment of the NKR to democratic values,” Babayan emphasized.

Azerbaijan has no moral right to accuse others, Babayan said, reminding about heroization of murderer Ramil Safarov.

“Let Azerbaijani leadership explain Victoria Nuland why Ramil Safarov had been called a hero or what usually happens with Armenian captives in Azerbaijani jail,” he added.

As regards returning the accused Azerbaijani citizens, Babayan said “we are ready to exchange one of them with Ramil Safarov”.