Press release

23 August, 2013 00:00
On August 23, First Deputy Minister of Defense Davit Tonoyan held separate meetings with the UNHCR representative in Armenia Mr.Damtew Dessalegne and with the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Armenia, Mr.Lorenzo Caraffi.

During both meetings parties discussed issues regarding the Armenian POW Hakob Injighulyan. D. Tonoyan particularly expressed his concern over the fact, that the Azerbaijani authorities continue to violate principles of international law with regard to Hakob Injighulyan and that competent international humanitarian organizations, human rights defenders and international community have not shown any reaction to the lack of restraint on part of Azerbaijan is rather perplexing. Alleged ``interviews`` with Hakob Injighulyan recently recorded and broadcasted by the Azerbaijani authorities-which again testify to the informational war against Armenia on a rather very primitive level and aim to hinder the process of Injighulyan`s repatriation - have not been condemned by a single international organization. It is obvious that Injighulyan is forced to come up with controversial statements under psychological intimidation and most probably under the threat of physical abuse which has become a common way of acting for the Azerbaijani authorities under wide-spread impunity. Hakob Injighulyan`s request for resettling him in a 3rd country should be taken into consideration if he was assured of the right to express his wish in a free, unhindered and informed manner and by no means under constant pressure . He also reiterated the pledge of the Armenian authorities not to subject Injighulyan to criminal prosecution in view of the absence of corpus dilecti in his case and informed about intentions to ask UNHCR to use its good offices when they are engaged and inform Injighulyan duly of this commitment. It is noteworthy that no repatriated POW of Armenian nationality has been subject to such prosecution with most of them taking up their service in their homeland. It was also said, that the Armenian side believes international humanitarian organizations should engage themselves to a maximum extent facilitating the prompt repatriation of Injighulyan and will object to any attempt ofhis resettlement in a 3rd country considering them unjustified and groundless.