Armenian Civilian Tortured to Death in Azerbaijan, Ombudsman Tatoyan Reports

Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan have been coerced into making positive statements about their treatment during filmed interviews, announced Armenian Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan during the presentation of a report on violations of Armenian prisoners' rights.

"The aim of obtaining false information was evident. For example, one soldier was forced to say in front of the camera that there had been a wedding or a birthday celebration in Khovsakan (Zangelan), and that he blew up a house with a grenade, resulting in the deaths of 50 Azerbaijanis. There have been instances where people were kept in chains. They were handcuffed to heating batteries and deprived of food," Tatoyan detailed.

Particularly brutal treatment was reported for those soldiers who participated in the April 2016 war or the first Nagorno-Karabakh war. "Through beating and torture, such information was obtained, which led to even more heinous treatment," said Arman Tatoyan.

According to the Ombudsman, one 20-year-old prisoner of war was forced to wear women's clothing and was subjected to humiliation. There have been cases where individuals were tortured in front of an audience, with the involvement of civilians. For instance, passersby in hospitals spat on a prisoner of war, beat him, and exerted violence, all in the presence of a security service officer.

“The treatment of civilians has also been brutal. An elderly man informed us that there have been instances where another civilian was beaten and tortured to the extent that he died in his cell, and his body remained there for several days," Tatoyan reported.