Azerbaijan's Ombudsperson and ICRC Representative discuss condition of Azerbaijanis who detained in Syria

Azerbaijan
# 19 March 2020 13:49 (UTC +04:00)

Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan Sabina Aliyeva has met with the head of the Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Azerbaijan Elena Aymone and Coordinator on Defense Emanuela Bertingi, Ombudsman Apparatus told APA.

Purpose of the meeting, held as a video call by using opportunities of internet resources in relevant to the recommendations of the Task Force under the Cabinet of Ministers, was discussion of current condition Azerbaijani citizens, detained in the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic as hostages and mortgages currently and mutual cooperation aimed at implementations of measures regarding their return.

Commissioner for Human Rights stated that some Azerbaijani citizens left for Syria with their families in order to participate in civilian war, going on in Syria in past years, stressed people, especially women and children, detained as hostages and mortgages in camps under the control of different armed groups, are in unbearable condition, injured and ill ones are deprived of medical assistance and at the neglected condition.

Sabina Aliyeva noted she has received numerous requests from close relatives of those persons and she personally received them several times. She brought into attention to her interlocutors that some children in relevant camps were subjected to torture by armed groups, forcibly taken from their families or abducted.

Elena Aymone head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Delegation in Azerbaijan said that they give great importance to cooperation with ombudsman institution, the mentioned issues are kept in focus, the activity will be continued in this field in a coordinated manner, special attention will be paid to protect the rights of people, especially children detained in Syrian camps.

In her turn, Emanuela Bertingi coordinator of ICRC on defense noted that visits in detention places in Syria are held, although coronavirus pandemic creates several difficulties in general activity, they will work in the field of settlement of problem in a coordinated manner.

Noting that the situation in these camps is at a dangerous level for humanitarian disaster and human life, Ombudsperson Sabina Aliyeva in the video meeting asked to do urgent measures within the mandate of the International Committee of the Red Cross in accordance with the Geneva Conventions, as well as to give assistance in protecting the interests of our citizens who have become hostages of the armed conflict in Syria, to precise information about them, to prevent these persons from being subjected to torture and inhuman treatment, at the same time to ensure humanitarian support, to provide medical assistance to wounded and ill, as well as to give assistance in returning them to their families.

Elena Aymone has expressed her gratitude to Ombudsperson for a useful exchange of ideas and discussions and noted that the raised issues will be considered within the framework of cooperation.

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