Armenia needs strong support of international partners to ensure return of prisoners of war and hostages — Karen Andreasyan meets Head of ICRC Delegation

For the purpose of ensuring urgent return of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians held in Azerbaijan, Armenia needs the strong support of international partners and the strengthening of international pressure in this regard. Minister of Justice Karen Andreasyan emphasised this today during the meeting with Head of the Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Thierry Ribo.

The Minister highly appreciated the ICRC’s mission — during and after the 44-day war unleashed by Azerbaijan — to visit Armenian prisoners of war and civilians held in Azerbaijan and to ensure constant communication with their families, and shared his deep concern with Thierry Ribo over the tortures, inhuman and degrading treatment of Armenian prisoners of war and hostages held in Azerbaijan.  

The Head of the ICRC Delegation presented the activities carried out by the structure in the post-war period and touched upon other issues of mutual interest.

Upon the request of the guest, among other issues, Karen Andreasyan also touched upon the reforms agenda of the Ministry of Justice and emphasised the programme for rehabilitation of the penitentiary system targeted at not only protection of the rights of people held in penitentiary institutions, but also improvement of the management system.

During the meeting, the interlocutors stressed their willingness to further deepen the existing co-operation between the two structures.