TODAY.AZ / Politics

State comission on prisoners of war, hostages and missing people reports

17 May 2006 [21:43] - TODAY.AZ
The State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons regards widespread recently in mass media by the coordinator of the "International working group on release of POWs, hostages and missing citizens" in Azerbaijan messages on arrest of the persons released from captivity and, ostensibly, prosecution of relatives of the persons sent to the third countries, as the action directed on public opinion.

The questions connected with citizens, taken in captivity as a result of aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan and sent to the third countries (concerning their biographical particulars, addresses of parents, the countries in which they are sent and so forth), are known to the State Commission, other corresponding bodies, and also parents. We inform, that the said persons, quite possibly, were sent to the third countries with their consent according to norms of the international humanitarian law. Parents of the persons taken in captivity were pursued in connection with the fact of their sending to the third countries neither by the State Commission nor other corresponding bodies, and now such steps are not undertaken. We remind, that according to the Constitution of the Azerbaijan Republic, close relatives of any person who have made this or that act, cannot be pursued and made answerable. The Azerbaijan Republic with respect concerns to the supreme principles of law and human rights and protect them.

We inform, that from 1381 persons taken in captivity and hostages as a result of aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan and released subsequently, only 20 persons have been involved in the criminal liability. The specified persons have been punished not in connection with the fact of capture and hostages, and for the concrete criminal actions accomplished in captivity against the Azerbaijan Republic and its citizens.

The majority of the mentioned persons have been arrested not after release, but later some years when their criminal actions have come to light. If the given persons and their relatives were pursued, they would be arrested right after release from captivity. In spite of the fact that it was informed on the appeal to the Commission on pardon in connection with release of arrested 7 persons, nevertheless, the Commission has informed, that the given question was not discussed.

The State Commission cooperates with some international organizations, including the "International Working Group on Release of POWs, Hostages and Missing Citizens in the zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict", IWG, created in 1997, while carrying out of search work and performance of other problems it faces, realization of activity in Armenia and on our occupied lands.

IWG is managed by Bernhard Clausen (Germany), Svetlana Gannushkina (Russia) and Paata Zakareishvili (Georgia) with financial support of the German Fund of Henry Bell. The State Commission positively estimates the objective approach of IWG co-chairman from Germany Bernhard Clausen to search work and the questions connected with destiny of the missing, and the work done by them for achievement of result. At the same time, IWG coordinator for Azerbaijan satisfies only with the statements calculated on public opinion, trying to build its work in the given context. Its divergence is shown since 2001 when it has started to work as the coordinator.

It causes concern that during his group visit to Armenia and on the occupied Azerbaijan territories he does not lift the questions connected with citizens of Azerbaijan fact of capture and hostages of which is known, and we consider, that during the said visits his work was limited only to support of co-chairmen. It is obvious from IWG reports covering the given period. During cooperation the State Commission prefers observance of ethic standards, reminding at the same time that it is proxy to make objective estimation to any act pursuing the purpose to confuse public opinion, AzerTAg reports.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/politics/26205.html

Print version

Views: 2153

Connect with us. Get latest news and updates.

Recommend news to friend

  • Your name:
  • Your e-mail:
  • Friend's name:
  • Friend's e-mail: