Azerbaijani journalists have become an author of a new initiative, which is aimed to organize a meeting with captive members of the Azerbaijani subversive group Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilham Askerov. The statement of the initiative reads that allegedly these two persons had visited the graves of their relatives but were taken captive right there, as well there is a concern about ill-treatment against them at the penitentiary facility. In an interview with Aravot.am,
Ruben Melikyan, the human rights defender in Artsakh (HRD), told on this that the statement of this initiative, in particular with regard to ill-treatment, is not in accord with the reality, “As a human rights defender in Artsakh, I can say that no ill-treatment against anyone is carried out at the penitentiary facility of Artsakh. We have strong reasons to think that the information we have received is not in accord with reality.”
Mr. Melikyan does not imagine that this initiative may have legal implications. According to him, such initiatives can be born in any country, and perhaps the authors of this initiative are truly concerned about these people. Mr. Melikyan said, “I am familiar with the statement, and there was no idea about Artsakh there. I think that if there is an application to Artsakh authorities, they will discuss this issue in an appropriate manner, and if they apply to me, I will also discuss the application an appropriate manner within the range of my powers. Ruben Melikyan noted that like in other countries so as the Artsakh Ombudsman has powers to visit penitentiary facilities, which he had exercised. However, Mr. Melikyan stresses, “Let’s not forget that they are people convicted by the Criminal Code of the Republic of Artsakh for committing a prohibited action, in a manner defined by the judiciary of the Republic of Artsakh and the competent court of Artsakh. Any initiative, in this case, must be applied to the Artsakh authorities, and it will become a subject for discussion.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
