View source for Armenian prisoners of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War

'''Armenian [[prisoners of war|prisoners]] of the [[Second Nagorno-Karabakh War]]''' are servicemen of the [[Artsakh Defence Army|Defense Army of the Republic of Artsakh]] and the [[Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia]], as well as civilians and other detainees, who surrendered or were forcibly captured by the [[Azerbaijani Armed Forces]] during and after the conflict in 2020 between [[Azerbaijan]] and the self-proclaimed [[Republic of Artsakh]] together with [[Armenia]] in the [[Political status of Nagorno-Karabakh|disputed region]] of [[Nagorno-Karabakh]] and [[Armenian-controlled territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh|surrounding areas]].
Azerbaijani forces inhumanely treated numerous ethnic Armenian military personnel, civilians and other detainees, subjected them to [[physical abuse]],<ref name="HRW">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/12/02/azerbaijan-armenian-prisoners-war-badly-mistreated|title=Azerbaijan: Armenian Prisoners of War Badly Mistreated|date=2 December 2020|website=hrw.org|publisher=[[Human Rights Watch]]|access-date=2 January 2022}}</ref> [[torture]],<ref name="HRW1" /> [[humiliation]],<ref name="HRW" /> [[enforced disappearance]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/POL1048702022RUSSIAN.pdf|title=Доклад Amnesty International 2021/22|language=ru|access-date=31 March 2022|page=71}}</ref><ref name="ohchr"/> [[extrajudicial killing]]<ref name="HRW3">{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/03/12/survivors-unlawful-detention-nagorno-karabakh-speak-out-about-war-crimes|title=Survivors of unlawful detention in Nagorno-Karabakh speak out about war crimes|date=12 March 2021|publisher=[[Human Rights Watch]]|access-date=6 March 2022|author=Tanya Lokshina}}</ref> and [[execution]].<ref name="bellingcat">{{cite web|title=An Execution in Hadrut|url=https://www.bellingcat.com/news/rest-of-world/2020/10/15/an-execution-in-hadrut-karabakh/|access-date=16 October 2020|website=Bellingcat|date=15 October 2020}}</ref> Intentionally [[killing civilians]], intentionally killing [[prisoners of war]], [[torture]], taking [[hostage]]s, the granting of [[no quarter]] despite surrender are all considered [[war crime]]s.<ref name="Cassese">{{Cite book |last=Cassese |first=Antonio |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4LSPtqicFUcC |title=Cassese's International Criminal Law |date=2013 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-969492-1 |edition=3rd |pages=63–66 |author-link=Antonio Cassese |access-date=October 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429140110/https://books.google.com/books?id=4LSPtqicFUcC |archive-date=April 29, 2016 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
The number of Armenian POWs has remained unknown.<ref name="HRW1"/> They were held in degrading conditions of detention.<ref name="HRW3"/> Despite calls for the immediate release of all Armenian POWs, civilians and other detainees by the EU and international organizations,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20210517IPR04125/human-rights-chad-haiti-and-armenian-prisoners-of-war-in-azerbaijan|title=Human rights: Chad, Haiti and Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijan|work=[[European Parliament]]|date=20 May 2021|access-date=11 August 2021}}</ref> Azerbaijan has filed criminal charges against them.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://eurasianet.org/armenian-soldiers-on-trial-in-azerbaijan|title=Armenian soldiers on trial in Azerbaijan|work=Eurasianet|date=1 July 2021|access-date=11 August 2021}}</ref> Armenia filed [[Republic of Armenia v. Republic of Azerbaijan|a case against Azerbaijan]] at the [[International Court of Justice]] in September 2021, and the hearings  took place in October 2021 in [[The Hague]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1z/k1zrr42ylv|title = THE HAGUE – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) holds public hearings in the case Armenia v. Azerbaijan| date=14 October 2021 }}</ref>
== Background ==
{{main|Second Nagorno-Karabakh War}}
[[2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war|Renewed hostilities]] between [[Azerbaijan]] and [[Republic of Artsakh|Artsakh]] together with [[Armenia]] began on 27 September 2020. Many territories passed under the control of Azerbaijan during the following six weeks which culminated in the [[Battle of Shusha (2020)|capture]] of the strategically important town [[Shusha]] (known also as [[Shushi]]) and prompted the two sides to agree to [[2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement|a ceasefire agreement]] on 9{{nbs}}November 2020.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/armenian-president-says-nation-misjudged-its-negotiating-power-in-nagorno-karabakh-conflict|title=Armenian President says nation 'misjudged' its negotiating power in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict|website=SBS News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Report: The Anatomy of Genocide – Karabakh's Forty-Four Day War |url=https://www.persecution.org/2021/01/21/report-anatomy-genocide-karabakhs-forty-four-day-war/|website=persecution.org |date=21 January 2021|access-date=24 May 2021}}</ref> According to the agreement, both belligerent parties agreed to exchange prisoners of war and the dead.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/64384|title=Statement by President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and President of the Russian Federation|website=[[Kremlin.ru]]|date=10 November 2020 }}</ref>
== Abuse and torture ==
{{Further|War crimes in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War}}
On 19 March 2021, [[Human Rights Watch]] (HRW) reported that [[Azerbaijani Armed Forces]] abused Armenian POWs of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. Human Rights Watch called on the Azerbaijani authorities to investigate the cases of ill-treatment and bring those responsible to justice. The organization also called on the Azerbaijani side to "immediately release all remaining POWs" and detained civilians and "provide information on the whereabouts" of military personnel and civilians whose status is unknown.<ref name="HRW1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/03/19/azerbaijan-armenian-pows-abused-custody|title=Azerbaijan: Armenian POWs Abused in Custody|date=19 March 2021|publisher=[[Human Rights Watch]]|access-date=24 December 2021|author = Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at [[Human Rights Watch]]}}</ref>
Human Rights Watch also examined more than 20 videos posted on social media of scenes in which Azerbaijani officers clearly mistreat Armenian POWs.<ref name="HRW1"/>
=== Testimony of POWs ===
==== Human Rights Watch ====
Human Rights Watch interviewed four Armenian POWs who described in detail their mistreatment in detention, as well as the mistreatment of other POWs with whom they were taken prisoner or in the same cell. One of the Armenian POWs said that he was stabbed with a sharp metal rod. In the first days of detention, POWs were given very little water and almost no food.<ref name="HRW1"/>
One of the Armenian POWs, who was 19 years old, said to Human Rights Watch that he was tied up, handcuffed and thrown into the back of the car, face down. an Azerbaijani serviceman burnt his hands with what he described as a "windproof lighter", which was also used to heat up a metal rod and poke him in the back with the rod. the prisoner also told about that effect this abuse had on him and its continuation in the hospital:<ref name="HRW1" />
Another 20-year-old Armenian POW, who was captured on 20 October 2021 in the [[Hadrut Province]], along with eight other soldiers, was beaten by the Azerbaijani military:<ref name="HRW1" />
{{blockquote|text=“They started beating us straight away and kept it up for three hours or so. Their commanding officers told them not to. But whenever those officers weren’t around, the beating resumed… They gave a spade to one of ours and told him to go dig his grave. He was so frightened he started digging.”}}
All three POWs said that they were handcuffed to a radiator and had no mattresses or blankets. They were not given food or water and received no medical attention for their injuries. Azerbaijani officers beat the Armenian POWs with fists, feet and wooden rods.
One of the Armenian POWs said about his detention in Baku that he almost did not sleep there. He would get assaulted and beaten by a group of guards, numbering two to four, as soon as he spelt. One of them broke a wooden rod on him, hitting him so badly that he temporarily lost the use of one of his arms. On his fourth day there, he was beaten so badly that two of his ribs broke.<ref name="HRW1"/>
Another 31-year-old Armenian POW detailed their repeated beatings; they were beaten nonstop for one and a half hour, pushed into the ground, punched, and kicked, two or three guards "working" on each of them. once in his cell with another prisoner from his group, guards would come and beat them several times a day. the prisoner stated that they weren't interrogated during their abuse and instead were asked questions like "why did you join fighting".<ref name="HRW1"/>
The four POWs were interrogated by Azerbaijani special services for several weeks. During interrogations, they were all beaten with fists, kicked and hit with truncheons. One of the POWs, Tigran, said that he was twice tortured with electric current. The first time, the torture lasted about 40 minutes, and each time he fainted from pain, he was brought to his senses and given new electric shocks. In the second case, the torture lasted approximately 10 minutes.<ref name="HRW1"/>
The guards went into his cell every day to kick and beat the POWs. Hovhannes said that they were hitting him even in front of the doctor, who changed his bandages, he was beaten every day.<ref name="HRW1"/>
==== Maral Najarian and Viken Euljekjian ====
Maral Najarian and her fiancé Viken Euljekjian were captured on 10 November 2020, on their way to [[Shushi]], unaware that the city had been captured by [[Azerbaijani Armed Forces]]. According to Maral, they were handcuffed and searched and their phones, car and passports were confiscated. After two hours of detainment, guards began to beat Euljekjian. Later they were moved to a military prison and then to Baku under the pretext of handing them to the [[Red Cross]], only to be moved to another prison, which Najarian believes to be [[Qobustan, Baku|Gobustan]] Prison. That was the last time Najarian had seen Euljekjian, bruised and with open wounds on his wrists.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2021-03-31 |title=Maral Najarian's Harrowing Tale of Captivity in Azerbaijan |url=https://armenianweekly.com/2021/03/31/maral-najarians-harrowing-tale-of-captivity-in-azerbaijan/ |access-date=2022-03-06 |website=The Armenian Weekly |language=en-US}}</ref>
Najarian was released on 10 March 2021, through mediation of the [[International Committee of the Red Cross]].<ref name=":0" /> while Euljekjian was sentenced to 20 year in prison in Azerbaijan under the pretence of "terrorism".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Avedian |first=Lillian |date=2021-06-30 |title=Armenian POWs stand trial |url=https://armenianweekly.com/2021/06/30/armenian-pows-stand-trial/ |access-date=2022-03-07 |website=The Armenian Weekly |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Videos depicting abuse ===
There are hundreds of videos that depict abuses against Armenian prisoners online, both military and civilian, 35 of whom have been identified through video evidence as of 15 December 2021.<ref name=":1" />
== Execution ==
=== Hadrut Execution ===
On 15 October 2020, a video surfaced of two captured Armenians being executed by Azerbaijani soldiers;<ref name="bellingcat" /> Artsakh authorities identified one as a civilian.<ref>{{cite web|title=Azeri troops shoot Armenian war prisoners dead|url=https://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/286591/|access-date=15 October 2020|publisher=Panarmenian}}</ref> ''[[Bellingcat]]'' analysed the videos and concluded that the footage was real and that both executed were Armenian combatants captured by Azerbaijani forces between 9 and 15 October 2020 and later executed.<ref name="bellingcat"/> The [[BBC]] also investigated the videos and confirmed that the videos were from Hadrut and were filmed some time between 9–15 October 2020. A probe has been launched by Armenia's human rights defender, Arman Tatoyan, who shared the videos with [[European Court of Human Rights]] and who will also show the videos to  the [[United Nations Human Rights Council|UN human rights commissioner]], the [[Council of Europe]] and other international organizations.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: 'Execution' video prompts war crime probe|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54645254|work=BBC News|date=24 October 2020}}</ref> The U.N. human rights chief, [[Michelle Bachelet]], stated that "in-depth investigations by media organisations into videos that appeared to show Azerbaijani troops summarily executing two captured Armenians in military uniforms uncovered compelling and deeply disturbing information".<ref>{{cite news|title=Possible war crimes committed in Nagorno-Karabakh, U.N. rights boss says|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-armenia-azerbaijan-un-rights-idUSKBN27I238|work=Reuters|date=2 November 2020}}</ref>
=== Others ===
On 10 December, [[Amnesty International]] released a report on videos depicting war crimes. In some of these videos, Azerbaijani soldiers were seen [[Decapitation|decapitating]] an Armenian soldier as he was alive. In another video, the victim is an older man in civilian clothes who gets his throat cut before the video abruptly ends.<ref name="amnestybehead">{{cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/12/armenia-azerbaijan-decapitation-and-war-crimes-in-gruesome-videos-must-be-urgently-investigated/|title=Armenia/Azerbaijan: Decapitation and war crimes in gruesome videos must be urgently investigated|date=10 December 2020|website=amnesty.org|publisher=[[Amnesty International]]}}</ref>
Beheadings of two elderly ethnic Armenian Civilians by [[Azerbaijani Armed Forces|Azerbaijani armed forces]] have been identified by [[The Guardian]].<ref name=":1">{{cite news |date=15 December 2020 |title=Two men beheaded in videos from Nagorno-Karabakh war identified |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/15/two-men-beheaded-in-videos-from-nagorno-karabakh-war-identified}}</ref>
== Repatriation after the war ==
[[File:Armenian prisoners of war returning to Yerevan.jpg|thumb|300px|Armenian prisoners of war returning to [[Yerevan]] in February 2021. The photo was published by the [[Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mil.ru/russian_peacekeeping_forces/news/more.htm?id=12343228@egNews|title=Заявление командующего российским миротворческим контингентом генерал-лейтенанта Рустама Мурадова|date=10 February 2021|publisher=[[Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation]]|access-date=21 February 2022|language=ru}}</ref>]]
In December 2020, Armenia and Azerbaijan have begun exchanging groups of [[prisoners of war]] mediated by Russia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-12-15/armenia-and-azerbaijan-exchange-first-prisoners-after-karabakh-war|title=Armenia and Azerbaijan Exchange First Prisoners After Karabakh War|date=2020-12-15|website=www,usnews.com|publisher=[[U.S. News & World Report]]}}</ref> As of February 2022, 150 prisoners, including [[civilians]], returned to Armenia and Artsakh.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uic.am/15010|title=Գերիների հարցը․ քանի հոգի, երբ և որ երկրի միջնորդությամբ է վերադարձել հայրենիք|date=18 February 2022|language=hy|publisher=Union of Informed Citizens|access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"; style="text-align:right;"
|+ Number of Armenian POWs returned since the signing of the [[2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement]]{{efn|A number of Armenian prisoners of war were captured after the end of the [[2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War]].}}
|-
! Date !! Number of POWs !! Mediated by !! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| {{start date|2020|10|28}} || 1 || [[Russia]] ||
|-
| {{start date|2020|12|04}} || 2 || [[Russia]] ||
|-
| {{start date|2020|12|09}} || 4 || [[Russia]] ||
|-
| {{start date|2020|12|12}} || 2 || [[Russia]] ||
|-
| {{start date|2020|12|14}} || 44 || [[Russia]] || <ref name="eadaily">{{cite web|url=https://eadaily.com/ru/news/2020/12/15/vlasti-karabaha-vernulis-44-plennyh-est-eshchyo-mnogo-uderzhivaemyh-lic|title=Власти Карабаха: Вернулись 44 пленных, есть ещё много удерживаемых лиц|date=15 December 2020|publisher=EADaily|language=ru|access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref>
|-
| {{start date|2020|12|15}} || 1 || [[Russia]] || <ref name="eadaily"/>
|-
| {{start date|2020|12|28}} || 4 || [[Russia]] || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://eadaily.com/ru/news/2020/12/28/armyanskie-plennye-vernulis-na-rodinu-pri-posrednichestve-rossii-i-mkkk|title=Армянские пленные вернулись на родину при посредничестве России и МККК|date=28 December 2020|language=ru|publisher=EADaily|access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref>
|-
| {{start date|2021|01|28}} || 5 || [[Russia]] ||
|-
| {{start date|2021|02|09}} || 5 || [[Russia]] ||
|-
|March 10, 2021
|1{{Efn|Maral Najarian}}
|[[ICRC]]
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
| {{start date|2021|05|04}} || 3 || [[Russia]] ||
|-
| {{start date|2021|06|09}} || 1 || [[Russia]] ||
|-
| {{start date|2021|06|12}} || 15{{efn|On 12 June 2021, Azerbaijan returned 15 Armenian prisoners of war in exchange for minefield maps in the [[Agdam District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/news-57458062|title=Конфликт в Карабахе: Азербайджан и Армения разменяли пленных на карты минных полей|language=ru|date=13 June 2021|publisher=[[BBC News]]|access-date=3 March 2022}}</ref>}}|| [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210612-azerbaijan-releases-15-armenian-pows|title=Azerbaijan releases 15 Armenian POWs|date=12 June 2021|publisher=[[France 24]]|access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref>
|-
| {{start date|2021|07|03}} || 15{{efn|On 3 July 2021, Azerbaijan returned 15 Armenian prisoners of war in exchange for minefield maps in [[Fuzuli District|Fuzuli]] and [[Zangilan District|Zangilan]] districts.}}|| [[Russia]] || <ref name="caucasianknot">{{cite web|url=https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/369249/|title=Пять армянских военнопленных возвращены на родину|date=19 October 2021|language=ru|publisher=[[Caucasian Knot]]|access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref>
|-
| {{start date|2021|09|07}} || 2 || [[Russia]] || <ref name="caucasianknot"/>
|-
| {{start date|2021|09|09}} || 2 || [[Russia]] ||
|-
| {{start date|2021|10|06}} || 1{{efn|On 6 October 2021, Azerbaijan returned 1 Armenian prisoner of war who crossed the [[Republic of Artsakh|Artsakh]] border on 22 August 2021.}}  || [[Russia]] || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/12595489|title=Вице-премьер Армении сообщил о возвращении из Азербайджана одного из удерживаемых лиц|language=ru|date=6 October 2021|publisher=[[TASS]]|access-date=3 March 2022}}</ref>
|-
| {{start date|2021|10|19}} || 5 || [[Russia]] || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://tass.com/society/1351493|title=Azerbaijan releases 5 Armenian POWs with Russia's mediation — statement|date=19 October 2021|publisher=[[TASS]]|access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref>
|-
| {{start date|2021|11|26}} || 2 || [[Russia]] ||
|-
| {{start date|2021|12|04}} || 10{{efn|On 4 December 2021, Azerbaijan returned 10 Armenian prisoners of war captured on 16 November 2021 in exchange for minefield maps in [[Nagorno-Karabakh]].}}  || [[Russia]] || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/azerbaijan-hands-over-10-captured-soldiers-armenia-2021-12-04/|title=Azerbaijan hands over 10 captured soldiers to Armenia|date=4 December 2021|publisher=[[Reuters]]|access-date=3 March 2022}}</ref>
|-
| {{start date|2021|12|19}} || 10 || [[European Union]] || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/azerbaijan-frees-ten-more-armenian-prisoners-of-war/6361537.html|title=Azerbaijan Frees 10 More Armenian Prisoners of War|date=19 December 2021|publisher=[[Voice of America]]|access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref>
|-
| {{start date|2021|12|29}} || 6 || [[Hungary]] || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://hirado.hu/belfold/cikk/2022/01/07/az-ormeny-egyhazfo-koszonetet-mondott-orban-viktornak|title=Az örmény egyházfő köszönetet mondott Orbán Viktornak|language=hu|date=7 January 2022|publisher=[[Híradó]]|access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref>
|-
| {{start date|2022|02|07}} || 8 || [[European Union]], [[France]] || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20220207-azerbaijan-releases-eight-armenian-prisoners-after-french-eu-mediation|title=Azerbaijan releases eight Armenian prisoners after French-EU mediation|date=7 February 2022|publisher=[[France 24]]|access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref>
|}
== Reactions ==
=== Armenia and Artsakh ===
According to Armenian authorities, as of April 2021, over 200 Armenian POWs were held captive by Azerbaijan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.armradio.am/2021/04/16/silent-protest-in-los-angeles-demands-release-of-armenian-pows/|title=Silent protest in Los Angeles demands release of Armenian POWs|date=2021-04-16|website=armradio.am|publisher=[[Public Radio of Armenia]]}}</ref>
==== Armenian diaspora ====
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On 14 April 2021, a global campaign was launched among the [[Armenian diaspora]] to demand the release of Armenian POWs and other detainees held in Azerbaijan. Protests were held in 14 cities around the world, including [[Toronto]], [[Paris]], [[Rome]], [[Houston]], [[Sacramento]], [[Montreal|Montréal]], [[New York City|New York]], [[Los Angeles]], [[Warsaw]], [[Berlin]], [[Hamburg]] and [[Moscow]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.armradio.am/2021/04/15/protesters-in-geneva-demand-the-release-of-armenian-pows/|title=Protesters in Geneva demand release of Armenian POWs|date=2021-04-15|website=www.armradio.am|publisher=[[Public Radio of Armenia]]}}</ref>
=== Azerbaijan ===
In Azerbaijan, the detainees are not considered POWs, they are instead accused of various crimes allegedly committed after the ceasefire agreement was signed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/russian/features-57739392|title="Бьют, издеваются, но у меня все хорошо". Что рассказывают вернувшиеся из азербайджанских тюрем армянские военные|date=7 July 2021|publisher=[[BBC News]]|language=ru|author=Olga Prosvirova|access-date=10 February 2022}}</ref>
=== International ===
==== Countries ====
* {{flag|Russia}}: On 31 August 2021, [[Russian Foreign Minister]] [[Sergey Lavrov]] called on Azerbaijan to release all Armenian prisoners of war without any additional conditions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ria.ru/20210831/mid-1748026189.html|title=Лавров призвал Азербайджан освободить армянских военнопленных|date=31 August 2021|publisher=[[RIA Novosti]]|access-date=11 February 2022|language=ru}}</ref>
* {{flag|USA}}: On 22 September 2021, the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] passed an amendment that demanded Azerbaijan's immediate release of about 200 Armenian POWs, hostages and detained persons, drawing attention to Azerbaijan "misrepresenting their status in an attempt to justify their continued captivity".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://amendments-rules.house.gov/amendments/CARDCA_036_xml210920102639182.pdf|title=AMENDMENT TO RULES COMM. PRINT 117 13 OFFERED BY MR. CARDENAS OF CALIFORNIA|date=20 September 2021|website=amendments-rules.house.gov|access-date=23 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.am/eng/news/664117.html|title=US Congress demands release of all Armenian POWs in Azerbaijan|date=23 September 2021|website=news.am|access-date=23 September 2021}}</ref>
* {{flag|Canada}}: On 7 May 2021, [[Global Affairs Canada]], the department of the [[Government of Canada]], welcomed release of Armenian detainees and "continues to call for the release of all detainees”.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/canadafp/status/1390401047496101891|title=Foreign Policy CAN|publisher=[[Twitter]]|date=7 May 2021|access-date=17 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1051590.html|title=Canada calls for release of all Armenian captives|date=7 May 2022|publisher=Armenpress|access-date=17 February 2022}}</ref>
* {{flag|Luxembourg}}: On 28 May 2021, [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Luxembourg)|The Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] called on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners of war.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/mfa_lu/status/1398323544241623044|title=MFA Luxembourg|date=28 May 2021|publisher=[[Twitter]]|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.armradio.am/2021/05/28/luxembourg-calls-for-immediate-release-of-armenian-pows/|title=Luxembourg calls for immediate release of Armenian POWs|date=28 May 2021|publisher=[[Public Radio of Armenia]]|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref>
* {{flag|Spain}}: On 11 May 2021, Spanish Members of Parliament and Senators demanded the release Armenian POWs held in Azerbaijan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.am/eng/news/643264.html|title=Spanish MPs and Senators demand the release Armenian POWs|date=11 May 2021|website=news.am|access-date=18 February 2022}}</ref>
* {{flag|The Netherlands}}: On 27 February 2021, the [[Dutch Parliament]] adopted two motions, that also addresses the issue of Armenian POWs still being held in Azerbaijan and called for the release and repatriation of the POWs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://barnabasfund.org/news/dutch-parliament-passes-motion-calling-on-government-to-recognise-armeni/|title=Dutch parliament passes motion calling on government to recognise Armenian Genocide|date=2 March 2021|publisher=Barnabas Fund|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref>
==== OSCE Minsk Group ====
* On 13 April 2021,  the [[OSCE Minsk Group]], responsible for mediating the [[peace process]] in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict since 1992, stated that "additional efforts are required to resolve remaining areas of concern and to create an atmosphere of mutual trust conducive to long-lasting peace", including the return of all POWs and other detainees in accordance with the provisions of [[international humanitarian law]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.osce.org/minsk-group/483416|title=Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group|date=13 April 2021|location=[[Moscow]], [[Paris]], [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]]|website=[[osce.org]]|publisher=[[OSCE Minsk Group]]|access-date=20 January 2022}}</ref>
==== European parliament ====
On 20 May 2021, the [[European Parliament]] adopted a resolution urging Azerbaijan to immediately and unconditionally release all the Armenian prisoners, both military and civilian, detained during or after the conflict.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/RC-9-2021-0277_FR.html|title=Résolution du Parlement européen sur les prisonniers de guerre à la suite du dernier conflit entre l'Arménie et l'Azerbaïdjan|date=20 May 2021|language=fr|website=www.europarl.europa.eu}}</ref>
==== OHCHR ====
On 1 February 2021, UN human rights experts called on both sides for the prompt release of POWs and other captives. They were also concerned by allegations that POWs and other protected persons have been subjected to [[extrajudicial killing]], [[enforced disappearance]], torture and other ill-treatment.<ref name="ohchr">{{cite web|url=https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26702&LangID=E|title=Nagorno-Karabakh: captives must be released – UN experts|website=ohchr.org|access-date=15 February 2022}}</ref>
==== Organization of American States (OAS) ====
Secretary General of the [[Organization of American States]] [[Luis Almagro]] has called for the release of all Armenian prisoners of war.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Almagro_OEA2015/status/1363551450702438402|title=Luis Almagro|date=21 February 2021|publisher=[[Twitter]]|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.armradio.am/2021/02/22/luis-almagro-calls-for-release-of-armenian-pows/|title=Luis Almagro calls for release of Armenian POWs|date=22 February 2021|publisher=[[Public Radio of Armenia]]|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref>
==== Freedom House ====
On 11 May 2021, the human rights organization [[Freedom House]] stated it was "deeply concerned by the reports of dehumanizing treatment and abuse, including torture, of Armenians captured and detained by Azerbaijan after the recent armed conflict".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://freedomhouse.org/article/azerbaijan-allow-human-rights-court-investigate-reports-detainee-torture|title=Azerbaijan: Allow Human Rights Court to Investigate Reports of Detainee Torture|date=11 May 2021|publisher=[[Freedom House]]|access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref>
== See also ==
* [[Prisoner of war]]
== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Nagorno-Karabakh conflict}}
[[Category:Armenian prisoners of war|*]]
[[Category:Crimes against prisoners of war]]
[[Category:War crimes in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War]]
[[Category:Azerbaijani war crimes]]
[[Category:People killed in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War]]
[[Category:Prisoners of war by conflict]]