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ICRC Delegation in Azerbaijan responds accusations of Human Rights Commissioner

31 March 2010 12:58 (UTC +04:00)

â€œThe ICRC would like to bring to the attention of the general public that erroneous reporting can have a negative impact both on the detainees and on their families’ members. The ICRC always prefers to deliver and discuss private information related to detained people only with their family members or relevant authority representatives from both sides and not subject those deprived of freedom to public scrutiny. In accordance with its mandate based on the Geneva Conventions, the ICRC visits persons detained in relation to conflict situations worldwide and has a long experience in this field. Since 1992, the ICRC has been visiting people who are detained in connection with the Nagorny Karabakh conflict. The aims and procedures of these visits are strictly humanitarian. By registering detainees and repeating visits the ICRC assesses their detention conditions and treatment until their release. Delegates talk to detainees in private, as well as visit premises and discuss their findings with the detaining authorities in a confidential manner. The ICRC makes the necessary recommendations when neededâ€, said the ICRC Delegation.

ICRC delegation said they offered detainees the opportunity to write messages, known as "Red Cross Messages" (RCM) to their families. â€œDesigned exclusively for exchanging personal greetings and family news, these messages provide vital moral support for prisoners and their families as this is often the only means for them to keep in touch. It should be noted that RCMs are subject to censorship and can be returned to a detainee or his/her family, if the content of a RCM goes beyond strictly family news. The ICRC can not force a detained person to write or receive an RCM if it is not so wishedâ€.

When the relevant authorities decide to release a detained person, the ICRC, if requested, supports authorities in the practical arrangements necessary to repatriate or transfer such a person, said the ICRC Delegation. â€œThe ICRC is not involved in the process of negotiations on possible transfer or repatriation of persons detained in relation to a conflict. However, before agreeing to assist in repatriation or transfer, the ICRC always ensures by means of a private interview with the detained person concerned that he or she wishes to be sent home. Since 1992, the ICRC has helped repatriate or transfer persons in connection with the Nagorny Karabakh conflict, and the organization will support any similar operation in the future should the need ariseâ€.

During the meeting with Pascal Wagner, the head of ICRC for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Elmira Suleymanova, Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsperson) of the Republic of Azerbaijan said that
despite long time has passed since soldiers of Azerbaijani Armed Forces Rafig Rahman oglu Hasanov (October 8, 2008), Anar Khanbaba Hajiyev (May 10, 2009) and civilian Eldar Haydar Tagiev (December 28, 2009) were taken captives, they are still in the Armenian captivity. The Commissioner also appealed the Baku office of the ICRC on the basis of complaints of parents and relatives of the POWs. She said sometimes local representation of ICRC censors, exerts pressure on parents with regard to correspondence of captives and hostages from Azerbaijan and added that it was a violation of rights.