Ombudsman visits Vagif Khachaturian

Baku/03.08.23/Turan: On 3 August, Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva together with members of the National Group for Prevention of Tortures, as well as doctors and psychologists visited Vagif Khachaturyan, who is in a Baku hospital.

He was detained on 29 July at the Lachin border checkpoint while trying to cross to Armenia, as he was wanted on charges of committing crimes against Azerbaijanis in the Karabakh village of Meshali in 1991.

According to the Ombudsman's Office, Khachaturian reported humane treatment and good medical care since his detention. According to the same source, Khachatryan thanked the good conditions of detention and the possibility to contact his family.

During the visit the conditions of detention, medical care and food were checked.

According to the report, a criminal case was opened against Vagif Khachaturyan on charges of forcible eviction of people and participation in murders.

During the capture of Meshali village by Armenian forces, 25 civilians were killed and the village itself was burnt down. Several hundred ethnic Azeri villagers were forced to flee.  -02D-