Baku: The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva, has responded to recent allegations made at a press conference in Armenia concerning the treatment of Armenian-origin detainees in Azerbaijan. These allegations suggested discrimination based on religious affiliation, torture, and destruction of Christian symbols. Aliyeva has dismissed these claims as unfounded and biased, seeing them as attempts to disrupt ongoing peace talks between the two nations.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Aliyeva emphasized that presenting such serious accusations without credible evidence is incompatible with the principles of human rights protection. She highlighted that Azerbaijan is a multinational and multiconfessional secular state that ensures equal treatment of individuals from different religious backgrounds. The Ombudsman stated that criminal responsibility in Azerbaijan is determined based on the nature of the act committed and not by ethnic origin or religious belief.
The Ombudsman’s National Preventive Group has conducted monitoring visits and held confidential meetings with Armenian-origin detainees in Azerbaijan. These visits assessed the medical and psychological conditions of the detainees and explained their rights and freedoms in their native language. The monitoring confirmed that the rights and freedoms of these individuals were upheld according to international standards, and they had access to necessary services without discrimination.
Aliyeva stressed the importance of distinguishing human rights protection activities from politically motivated statements. Making serious allegations of torture and religious persecution without verified facts misleads public opinion and disrupts peace efforts. She urged for a responsible approach in human rights work, relying on objective facts, and avoiding rhetoric that could undermine peace and mutual trust between societies.
The Ombudsman underscored the need for a lasting peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which requires building trust and refraining from intolerant rhetoric. Presenting unverified information on religious grounds only deepens societal mistrust and damages the peace and reconciliation process.