Parliamentarians discuss draft law on prevention, punishment of int’l crimes
Policy that Armenia pursues towards Azerbaijan is quite clear. This country occupied our lands, destroyed cultural monuments and many people have been displaced due to the Armenian aggression.
Policy that Armenia pursues towards Azerbaijan is quite clear. This country occupied our lands, destroyed cultural monuments and many people have been displaced due to the Armenian aggression.
Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament Bahar Muradova made the remark on February 10 during a presentation of the draft law "On prevention and punishment of international crimes".
The presentation ceremony was organized by the Human Rights Committee of the Parliament, according to Report. The event was attended by Deputy Chairman of the Parliament Bahar Muradova, Azerbaijani Military Prosecutor Khanlar Valiyev, Head of Human Rights Defense Sector of the Department of the Presidential Administration for Work with Law Enforcement Agencies Chingiz Asgarov, Chairman of the Council on State Support to NGOs under the auspices of the President of Azerbaijan, MP Azay Guliyev and others.
“We have tried to bring the Azerbaijani truth to the world, but unfortunately did not get the result we want. Azerbaijani lands are still under occupation,” she said.
Muradova stressed that the world community must be informed about Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan.
"Armenians still avoid criminal liability. The Khojaly genocide was recognized by 10 countries, as well as several states of the U.S. made relevant decisions. The UN Security Council adopted a resolution in this regard. However, requirements of this resolution have not been followed," the deputy chairman said.
Muradova also pointed to double standards reigning in the global arena. "Supporters of Armenia show biased attitude in this issue,” she said, noting that this is the reason why the issue has not bet solved so far.
This February marks the 25th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide, which is one of the blackest and bloodiest pages of human history. Even after 25 years, the scars remain raw and the trauma as stark as ever.
Khojaly, the second largest town in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, came under intense fire from the towns of Khankendi and Askeran already occupied by the Armenian Armed Forces in 1992.
About 613 civilians mostly women and children were killed in the massacre, and a total of 1,000 people were disabled. Eight families were exterminated, 25 children lost both parents, and 130 children lost one parent. Moreover, 1,275 innocent people were taken hostage, and the fate of 150 of them remains unknown.
Chingiz Asgarov, in turn, said that Armenia has committed and continues to commit crimes in the Nagorno-Karabakh.
“Historical monuments of Azerbaijan are being modified. Armenians use the Nagorno Karabakh also in the economic sphere, representing the products produced there as their own. It is a crime that must be suppressed,” he said, voicing necessity to adopt the draft law that is being discussed.
Azerbaijan has sent 700 appeals to the European Court of Human Rights in connection with damage caused by the Armenians during the April events of 2016, added Asgarov.
Asgarov noted that these cases are already being considered.
Long-simmering tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan flared again on April 2 when the Armenian side began to shell the Azerbaijani positions and settlements along the frontline. This resulted in the killing of two civilians and injuring of 10 another, including a 13-year-old child. More than 10 houses as well as local people`s property were also damaged.
To protect civilian population, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces launched counter attacks and repulsed the enemy forces back. On April 5, the two sides agreed on a ceasefire.
Later it was established that the dead bodies of Azerbaijani soldiers, who became the victims of April battles, were mutilated before they were handed over. Following the battles, Azerbaijan's Military Prosecutor's Office opened a criminal case in connection with the Armenian provocation.
Azerbaijan and Armenia for over two decades have been locked in conflict, which emerged over Armenian territorial claims. Since the 1990s war, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal, but they have not been enforced to this day.