"Claims have no moral basis" - Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry responds to Borrelll

On June 20, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrelll, in response to questions from members of the European Parliament, said that the EU calls on Azerbaijan to "release and repatriate the detained Armenians in Azerbaijan." According to him, this will contribute to the peace process and strengthen trust between the parties. Borrelll also said that the EU Delegation in Baku is in close contact with the Red Cross, which provides regular access to Armenian prisoners.

"The EU also continues to call on Azerbaijan to ensure the rights of Karabakh Armenians, including the realization of their right to return to their homes without intimidation and discrimination," Borrell said.

Commenting on the appeal of the EU High Representative, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Ayhan Hajizade called his words another attempt "to put forward claims that have no moral and factual basis. We reject these false and inflammatory allegations."

The representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs believes that after the 2020 war, Azerbaijan released and repatriated more than 200 Armenian prisoners of war. "Imprisoned war criminals, separatist leaders and other persons of Armenian origin are accused of war crimes, ethnic cleansing, military aggression, torture and other serious crimes, or have already been convicted of these crimes, or the investigation is ongoing. In accordance with the Geneva Conventions, as well as international and national legislation in general, Azerbaijan has the rights and obligations to investigate and prosecute such crimes," Hajizade said.

As for the right of Armenians to return to Karabakh, "despite the call to reintegrate into Azerbaijan, local Armenians decided to leave our country and not return," the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted.