Human Rights Defender of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Ruben Melikyan responded to statement of the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsperson) of Azerbaijan, issued by APA news agency of Azerbaijan that, allegedly according to ICRC, judicial sanctions against Azerbaijani saboteurs Dilham Askerov and Shahbaz Guliev sentenced in Artsakh Republic, are not in accordance with the principles of international law.
Statement of the Azerbaijani Ombudsman's is very unsuccessful expression of interaction with ICRC: NKR Ombudsman
STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 11, ARTSAKHPRESS: As "Artsakhpress" reports, in this regard the Human Rights Defender of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic made a statement on his official Facebook page, on Dec.10.
"On December 9, APA news agency of Azerbaijan released a statement of the Human Rights Commissioner of Azerbaijan on two Azerbaijani citizens serving sentence in Artsakh in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Artsakh. In particular, according to her, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) told her that these persons’ “conviction by illegal court are not in accordance with the principles of international law and contradicts them.”
Clearly, the statement of the Azerbaijani Ombudsman's is very unsuccessful expression of a interaction with the National Human Rights Institution and the ICRC.
Besides, such a statement is incompatible with any Ombudsman. The ICRC needed to respond to the statement appropriately, as it damages the ICRC reputation, as an exclusive international body led by neutral and impartial absolute principles and public perception. At the same time, I call on the competent state bodies of the Republic of Artsakh, do not tie further relations with the ICRC Stepanakert Office with Azerbaijani Ombudsman's statement and its consequences, taking into account the humanitarian mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross," Ruben Melikyan said in a statement.
Remind, APA reports that Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsperson) of Azerbaijan Elmira Suleymanova said: "I met and carried out discussions with the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in connection with Dilgam Askerov and Shakhbaz Guliyev and was told that judicial samnctions against Askerov and Guliev do not meet rules of international law."
