Nagorno-Karabakh Ombudsman demands Russian peacekeepers and ICRC to return kidnapped students
Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) authorities are unable to contact two students who were taken into interrogation by Azeri border guards in the Lachin Corridor’s illegal Azeri checkpoint, the Nagorno-Karabakh Human Rights Defender Gegham Stepanyan said in a statement, ARMENPRESS reports.
Another student was kidnapped by Azeri border guards and taken into an unknown direction, Stepanyan said.
All three men are students of universities in Armenia.
The three men were among 170 others who were being transported by Russian peacekeepers from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia on August 28.
The 22-year-old student, Alen Sargsyan, was kidnapped by the use of force by Azeri border guards.
Another 5 persons were taken into an interrogation room where they were questioned by Azeri border guards on various issues, such as their purpose of visiting Armenia, the economic situation in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh and others.
Stepanyan said the border guards had pre-arranged lists of persons. Two people who were on this list – Vahe Hovsepyan and Levon Grigoryan – did not cross the illegal checkpoint but Nagorno-Karabakh authorities are unable to contact them.
“We’ve numerously said that the illegal checkpoint installed near Hakari Bridge is a direct and undeniable threat to the protection of the physical existence and fundamental rights of the civilian population of Artsakh. The kidnappings of Vagif Khachatryan and Alen Sargsyan are undisputed proofs that the so-called checkpoint has turned into an instrument for serving criminal arbitrariness, through which civilians are arbitrarily kidnapped and deprived of freedom by Azerbaijanis. A population of 120,000 people is being kept in blockade, deprived of humanitarian access and the opportunity of protection of the basic human rights. The international legal and political guarantees of both the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Russian peacekeepers are insufficient for the protection of the rights of Artsakh population, including for ensuring the free and safe movement. Taking into consideration the obligations assumed by these two actors, the Human Rights Defender demands from them to take all available measures to ensure the security of humanitarian movement of the Artsakh population and the immediate return of the kidnapped persons. Without the presence of such guarantees the transfers of civilians must be stopped,” Stepanyan said.
The facts will be presented to international organizations.
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