Armenian prisoners of war tortured by Azerbaijanis in new video identified

YEREVAN, October 12. /ARKA/. A new video footage circulated in the Azerbaijani segment of social networks on October 11 shows another case of torture of unarmed Armenian prisoners of war by Azerbaijani troops, confirming the fact of their subsequent murder, Armenian Human Rights Defender Kristine Grigoryan said in a statement today.

"And this time too, the Azerbaijani soldiers are filming their war crime. The Office of the Human Rights Defender has located and confirmed that the events captured on the video took place on September 13 during the attack of the Azerbaijani armed forces on the Armenian territory. The identities of the Armenian POWs depicted in the video have been confirmed. These facts, among other evidence, are supported by the testimonies of Armenian POWs that were returned on October 4 this year," the Human Rights Defender's statement reads.

She said the above-mentioned facts are documented in detail and will be forwarded to international specialized organizations and actors.

The human rights defender notes that grave crimes committed by Azerbaijani servicemen continue to go unanswered, and impunity encourages them to commit new, even graver crimes.

"These acts must be clearly condemned internationally. The international community must more consistently demand that the Azerbaijani authorities properly investigate and punish the perpetrators and masterminds instead of awarding them medals," the statement stressed.

Earlier today the Armenian Defense Ministry said it was examining new video footage of torture of Armenian POWs, which shows Azerbaijani soldiers deliberately mutilating the legs of Armenian POWs and then forcing them to stand up. -0-