Council for Protection of Rights of Artsakh People demands  realprotection of Artsakh Armenians` rights 

ArmInfo. The Council for the Protection of the Rights of the Artsakh People demanded that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia take specific measures to protect the rights of the forcibly displaced population of Artsakh.  The Council stated this on April 14 during a rally in front of the  building of the Foreign Ministry, in connection with the inaction of  the Armenian authorities in taking steps for the collective return of  the Artsakh people and the release of Armenian prisoners of war.

In this regard, the participants of the rally recalled that a year  ago the Armenian Foreign Ministry raised the issue of the right of  the Artsakh people to return, claiming that this issue was on the  agenda of the Foreign Ministry. However, last month, as the  protesters noted, the Ministry published a statement in which it  refused to protect the rights of the Artsakh people.

"Armenian policy does not serve Armenian interests, but is used to  satisfy intra-party ambitions. We will not allow the people to be  deceived again," the protesters said.

In this regard, representatives of the Artsakh People's Rights  Protection Council submitted a statement to the Armenian Foreign  Ministry calling on the Armenian government and the Foreign Ministry  to take concrete steps to protect the rights of the Artsakh people,  taking into account existing international mechanisms and  opportunities. In particular, they proposed to contact the Office of  the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Council of  Europe to create international mechanisms to ensure collective,  dignified and safe return, as well as to contact the OSCE Minsk Group  with a demand to launch an international process for a peaceful and  fair settlement of the Artsakh issue. 

"We also demand that they contact the UN, OSCE and European Union  organizations to ensure the presence of international observers  during the false trial of Armenians through their embassies in Baku.  It is also necessary to contact a neutral party, for example  Switzerland, with a request to create an Armenian interests  department in their embassy in Baku and provide the prisoners with  the opportunity to receive consular service," the Council's statement  says.

The Artsakh Human Rights Council, among other things, called for the  implementation of the OSCE Moscow mechanism to protect the rights of  Armenian prisoners of war and hostages in Baku. In its statement, it  also demanded that the Armenian authorities make the issue of  prisoners an integral part of the signing of a peace treaty with  Baku. The Council, at the same time, proposed updating the interstate  complaints submitted to the European Court of Human Rights and the  International Court of Justice of the UN, providing evidence of  torture of prisoners of war, destruction of cultural heritage in  Artsakh and destruction of property.

Further, in the statement sent to the Armenian Foreign Ministry, it  was proposed to appeal to UNESCO and the Council of Europe with a  request to send a monitoring service to Artsakh to study and record  the destruction of cultural heritage and property of people. The  Council also called for an appeal to the relevant international  organizations and individual countries with a demand to take measures  to prevent Azerbaijan's crimes against Armenians.

In addition, it was proposed that Armenia or its friendly states send  evidence of Azerbaijan's violations to the International Criminal  Court for investigation and subsequent sanctions. "The Artsakh Human  Rights Council also calls on the Armenian Foreign Ministry to appeal  to the relevant states to initiate criminal prosecution against  Azerbaijani officials and military personnel for committing  international crimes," the Council summarized.

On March 29, a rally was held in Yerevan's Freedom Square for the  rights of the Artsakh people to collective return, a dignified and  safe life in their homeland, for ensuring socio-economic rights in  Armenia, for efforts to return prisoners and protect the cultural  heritage of Artsakh. In connection with the preparations for the  rally, a special Council was formed, which included representatives  of Artsakh public organizations, parliamentary forces and  individuals. The Council set up a tent in Freedom Square, where  meetings with various public and political figures and political  forces are periodically held. And on March 31, the Artsakh Citizens'  Rights Protection Council held a protest in front of the building of  the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia. During the  rally, the Council presented problems and possible solutions  regarding social programs for Artsakh residents.