In his latest speech, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev referred to Armenian prisoners as “war criminals.” Not “accused,” not “suspected” – he declared them guilty before a trial has even concluded.
These prisoners are being held in Baku, standing trial in a pre-trial detention center. And according to Aliyev, they are “finally drinking tea in Baku”, while in detention.
By calling people “war criminals” before a court has ruled, Aliyev is prejudging the outcome, using language as a tool of propaganda, and erasing due process. International law exists for a reason: no one should be publicly declared guilty before a fair trial.
What we see here is a political spectacle dressed up as justice. The focus is not on impartial investigation or accountability, but on torturing, humiliating prisoners and controlling the narrative.
