{"id":30828,"date":"2022-04-05T17:34:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-05T13:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/prwb.am\/2022\/02\/10\/%d5%a5%d5%a1%d5%b0%d5%af-%d5%b8%d6%82%d5%b4-%d5%b6%d5%a5%d6%80%d5%af%d5%a1%d5%b5%d5%a1%d6%81%d5%be%d5%a5%d5%ac-%d5%a7-%d5%b0%d5%a1%d5%b5%d5%a1%d5%bd%d5%bf%d5%a1%d5%b6%d5%ab-%d6%84%d5%a1%d5%b2%d5%b0\/"},"modified":"2024-09-12T14:08:46","modified_gmt":"2024-09-12T10:08:46","slug":"%d5%a5%d5%a1%d5%b0%d5%af-%d5%b8%d6%82%d5%b4-%d5%b6%d5%a5%d6%80%d5%af%d5%a1%d5%b5%d5%a1%d6%81%d5%be%d5%a5%d5%ac-%d5%a7-%d5%b0%d5%a1%d5%b5%d5%a1%d5%bd%d5%bf%d5%a1%d5%b6%d5%ab-%d6%84%d5%a1%d5%b2%d5%b0","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prwb.am\/en\/2022\/04\/05\/%d5%a5%d5%a1%d5%b0%d5%af-%d5%b8%d6%82%d5%b4-%d5%b6%d5%a5%d6%80%d5%af%d5%a1%d5%b5%d5%a1%d6%81%d5%be%d5%a5%d5%ac-%d5%a7-%d5%b0%d5%a1%d5%b5%d5%a1%d5%bd%d5%bf%d5%a1%d5%b6%d5%ab-%d6%84%d5%a1%d5%b2%d5%b0\/","title":{"rendered":"Armenia\u2019s Civil Society Statement on the Situation in Artsakh Presented at OSCE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

March 31st<\/sup>, 2022, Yerevan<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Armenia\u2019s civil society statement on protection of the rights of\nArmenian civilian population and security situation in Nagorno Karabagh was\npresented at the OSCE\u2019s first Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting held on\nMarch 28-29, in Vienna. Anna Melikyan, a representative of the \u201cProtection of\nRights without Borders\u201d nongovernmental organization, presented the assessment\nand recommendations developed by 23 civil society organizations from Armenia during\nthe session on \u201cRequirements and Application of International Humanitarian Law\nand International Human Rights Law\u201d at the OSCE meeting.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn 2020\nthe OSCE region witnessed the 44-day war in Nagorno Karabagh when Azerbaijani\narmed forces committed serious violations of the international humanitarian law\nand international human rights law. This included the use of prohibited means\nand methods of warfare, direct targeting of civilians, civilian objects and\ninfrastructure resulting in loss of life of civilians, including children, and\ncausing life changing injuries,\u201d \u2013 said Anna Melikyan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In her address, the representative of\nthe Armenian civil society reminded about the use of cluster munitions in\npopulated areas and other crimes committed by the Azerbaijani armed forces\nduring the war. Anna Melikyan emphasized that \u201cwell documented<\/a> war\ncrimes by Azerbaijani armed forces also include extrajudicial executions,\nbeheading while alive; and I repeat, beheadings while alive in the OSCE region\nin the 21st<\/sup> century, torture and inhuman treatment of captured\nArmenian civilians and prisoners of war, enforced disappearance, mutilation of\ndead bodies accompanied by the extreme hate speech and hatred towards the\nethnic Armenians. At least 38 civilians, who did not manage to leave their\nhomes on time, mostly elderly, people with disabilities, and women, were\ndeliberately killed, executed after falling into Azerbaijani custody.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She called for the OSCE attention to\nthe fact that these violations of the international humanitarian law and\ninternational human rights law remain unpunished. \u201cIt must be acknowledged that\nthroughout the period when these events unfolded the relevant international\norganizations failed to condemn the threats and use of force by Azerbaijan\ndespite all the evidence, turning a blind eye on gross violations of\ninternational humanitarian law and human rights. Instead, neutral statements\nwere issued calling on both parties to show restrain, which only encouraged the\nactions by Azerbaijan. Armenian civilians were killed and injured after the\nceasefire statement signed on November 9, 2020. The Armenian population of\nNagorno Karabagh is subjected to policy of terror implemented by Azerbaijan\naiming at ethnic cleansings,\u201d \u2013 stated the representative of civil society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also called on the participants to\nconsider the humanitarian crisis in Artsakh. \u201cGas supply was cut for more than\n120,000 people in Nagorno Karabagh while the temperature was below zero. The\nviolations continue as we speak,\u201d- concluded Anna Melikyan in her statement on\nbehalf of 23 organizations.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the statement addressed to the\nOSCE, Armenia\u2019s 23 civil society organizations urged the OSCE to strongly\ncondemn the use of force, obvious violations of international humanitarian law\nand international human rights by Azerbaijan and Baku\u2019s belligerent rhetoric.\nIn addition, the organizations encouraged the OSCE to return Azerbaijan to the\nnegotiations on the status of Nagorno Karabagh under the auspices of the OSCE\nMinsk Group. Another important recommendation is addressed to international\nbodies calling to employ, particularly in cooperation with the EU and the UN, a\npermanent human rights monitoring mission along the border between Armenia and\nAzerbaijan, which may help to stabilize the situation on the ground and create\nfavorable environment for the demarcation activities. It is also recommended\nthat the OSCE shall undertake urgent measures to issue a long-term\ninternational legal mandate to peacekeepers in Nagorno Karabagh to guarantee\nthe security of people living there. The OSCE was asked to pressure Azerbaijan\nto immediately repatriate the Armenian prisoners of war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The statement was signed by the Open\nSociety Foundations \u2013 Armenia, Helsinki Citizens\u2019 Assembly of Vanadzor,\n\u201cProtection of Rights without Borders\u201d NGO, Law Development and Protection\nFoundation, Transparency International Anticorruption Center, \u201cAsparez\u201d\nJournalists\u2019 Club, Union of Informed Citizens, Analytical Center on\nGlobalization and Regional Cooperation, \u201cFor Equal Rights\u201d NGO, Martuni Women\u2019s\nCommunity Council, \u201cCenter for Rights Development\u201d NGO, Women\u2019s Support Center,\n\u201cPink\u201d Human Rights NGO, \u201cPeace Dialogue\u201d NGO, \u201cCenter for Community\nMobilization and Support\u201d NGO, \u201cReal World, Real People\u201d NGO, \u201cArmenian\nProgressive Youth\u201d NGO, Public Journalism Club, \u201cJournalists for Human Rights\u201d\nNGO, Antidiscrimination and Equality Coalition, Goris Press Club, Women\u2019s\nResource Center, and \u201cTumanyan\u201d Law Office. \n  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Videos\nof Anna Melikyan\u2019s speech are available at: <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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