On 30 May 2016 there were numerous reports in mass media on the fact of 10-hours-long detention of Luka Vardanyan, the 8-years-old Russian national, who arrived to Baku airport with his mother, Ms. Christina Constantinova, and his stepfather. Both of them also are Russian Nationals (see https://regnum.ru/news/2138706.html). The only reason for the minor’s detention was his Armenian surname which gave Azerbaijani authorities a “solid” ground of suspecting Luka for having an Armenian origin.
This inacceptable incident is a clear sign of Azerbaijan’s state-supported policy of Armenophobia comprehensively described and documented in the Artsakh Ombudsman’s Interim Public Report of April 21, 2016 (pp. 12-49) (https://ombudsnkr.am/Interim_Public_Report_NKR_Omb_FINAL.pdf).
I call the International Human Rights Organizations, especially those in child rights protection area for adequate response to this particular incident and to the policy of Armenaphobia, in general. This policy is the imminent cause of terrific atrocities committed by Azerbaijani Military Forces during the large-scale aggression against the Artsakh Republic in early April, 2016.
The proper condemnation by International Community of the incident can prevent spreading hate speech and incitement to violence against Armenians, and as a result – the gross Human Rights violations in the region.
