Armenian President Armen Sarkissian received Thursday the Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan, the president's press service reported.

The parties discussed the fate of the Armenian prisoners of war detained by Azerbaijan and the civilians' taken hostage and the steps taken to return them.

The Human Rights Defender briefed on the actions taken by his office, as well as about the discussions he had with his foreign colleagues.

The president noted that the basic responsibility and obligation to the authorities of Armenia and Artsakh, to take all measures to enable all ties to immediately repatriate our forcibly detained compatriots subjected to barbaric and inhuman treatment, as well as to clarify the fate of missing persons. Sarkissian added that after the tripartite declaration of a cease-fire, he repeatedly raised issues of unconditional compliance with humanitarian law, the immediate return of prisoners of war with his international partner's. The president noted he will continue efforts in this direction and will use all opportunities.

Tatoyan, in turn, noted said he had also appealed to the international community and especially to structures with a mandate to protect human rights with an appeal to help resolve the problem with urgent steps.