ICRC staff visit arrested former separatist leaders

Baku/27.12.23/Turan: Staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in December again visited persons of Armenian origin in places of detention, information about whom was provided by the Azerbaijani side.

It was reported by Ilaha Huseynova, head of the public relations department of the ICRC Baku Office, in response to a media enquiry.

Note that one-on-one meetings were held with the detainees and conditions were created for contacts with their families.

The detainees were also given parcels from their families.

In accordance with its mandate, during its visits the ICRC assesses the treatment and conditions of detainees, creates conditions for restoring or continuing their contact with their families. In line with ICRC procedures, observations and recommendations regarding visits are communicated only to the detaining party, Huseynova explained.

The ICRC does not disclose the identity of those visited in detention centres.

It should be reminded that after the anti-terrorist operation in Karabakh on 19-20 September, law enforcement bodies detained and brought to Baku former "presidents" of the separatist regime Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Araik Harutyunyan, former "foreign minister" David Babayan, "parliament speaker" David Ishkhanyan, generals Leva Mnatsakanyan and David Manukyan and former "state minister" Ruben Vardanyan.

They face criminal charges of unleashing a war of aggression, acts against peace and humanity, violation of humanitarian law, terrorism, hiring mercenaries, creation of armed detachments, criminal orders and other offences. 16d06-.