We have just completed at our staff the next phase of our investigation into and legal formulations of the evidence on the Azerbaijani atrocities against our captured—the military and civilians—during this war. The Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Armenia (RA), Arman Tatoyan, wrote this on Facebook Monday night.

"The torture and cruelty, the inhuman treatment by the Azerbaijani armed forces are widespread, there are obvious features of war crimes—motivated by ethnic hatred.

Serious war crimes have been committed, for which it is very urgent to establish evidence and strengthen the grounds for criminal prosecution of the Azerbaijani authorities.

The agencies of Azerbaijani halls of power must come to understand that they will not go unpunished for the most serious human rights violations, war crimes, systematic propaganda of anti-Armenianism, and genocidal policy.

Impunity will lead to new atrocities and torture.

In the noted issues, the RA executive power—with its agencies—has a principal role.

Systematic and targeted work is needed to protect the rights of our compatriots in [Azerbaijani] captivity.

Instead, a discussion was held in the RA Government on November 30, dedicated to the investigation of criminal proceedings on other topics, and the issues of criminal prosecution of specific persons, their arrest or release from custody.

I consider unacceptable, especially the participation of a number of judges and a number of members of the Supreme Judicial Council in that discussion. Discussions with such direction endanger the independence and standing of the judicial power [in Armenia]," Tatoyan added in particular.