Azerbaijan continues to violate international humanitarian and human rights law four months after the end of the Nagorno-Karabakh war, Armenian Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian told a briefing with the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Swedish FM Ann Linde.

"Azerbaijan is violating international humanitarian and human rights law by keeping prisoners of war and civilians. With the direct participation and leadership of Turkey, thousands of militants who took part in the hostilities against Artsakh were transferred to the region. It is not only a gross violation of international law but also of commitments to the OSCE. It formed two dangerous precedents: an attempt to resolve the conflict by force and the delivery of militants from other regions to the OSCE region of responsibility. This should be condemned in the strictest manner," he said.

The minister noted that the earlier planned visit of Ann Linde did not take place due to the fault of Azerbaijan, which unleashed large-scale military actions. The FM added that the actions of Azerbaijan are a gross violation of the provisions of the OSCE and the Helsinki Final Act. "Throughout the war, Azerbaijan, with the effective assistance of Turkey, committed massive crimes: ethnic cleansing, war crimes against the Armenians of Artsakh, including against civilians, women, children, the elderly, destroyed numerous civilian and cultural heritage sites,” the FM added.