ARMENIAN OMBUDSMAN SEEKS COE RIGHTS COMMISSIONER'S AID OVER MI-24 CREW RETURN
13:13 â~@¢ 20.11.14
Armenia's human rights defender has asked the Council of Europe's
commissioner for human rights to assist in the return of the downed
Armenian helicopter's crew.
In a latter to Nils Muižnieks, Karen Andreasyan expresses concerns
over Azerbaijan's continuing gun attacks targeted at the crash site,
considering the armed violence a serious violation of the international
humanitarian law.
"I am deeply concerned and worried over the fate of helicopter's
three-member crew. The unarmed helicopter was hit by the Azerbaijani
armed forces during a training flight on November 12.
"Eight days have passed since the incident, but Azerbaijani side won't
allow access to the helicopter to recover the crew members, despite
the calls by the OSCE chairperson-in-office's personal representative
and the International Committee of the Red Cross. To make the matters
worse, the Azebraijani side did not allow the OSCE representatives
to conduct a monitoring in the crash site.
"Keeping the crashed helicopter's crew under fire for days conflicts
with not only the norms of international humanitarian law -
particularly the provisions of the Geneva Convention[s] - but also
violates the principles of elementary morality and conscience. In case
of a chance to approach the crashed helicopter's pilots to deliver
medical aid, it could have been possible to save at least one of them.
"I call on you not to stand by idly and assist in the return of
the helicopter's crew to the Armenian side, as well as ensure a
comprehensive, unbiased and transparent probe into the incident,"
he added.
Armenian News - Tert.am
13:13 â~@¢ 20.11.14
Armenia's human rights defender has asked the Council of Europe's
commissioner for human rights to assist in the return of the downed
Armenian helicopter's crew.
In a latter to Nils Muižnieks, Karen Andreasyan expresses concerns
over Azerbaijan's continuing gun attacks targeted at the crash site,
considering the armed violence a serious violation of the international
humanitarian law.
"I am deeply concerned and worried over the fate of helicopter's
three-member crew. The unarmed helicopter was hit by the Azerbaijani
armed forces during a training flight on November 12.
"Eight days have passed since the incident, but Azerbaijani side won't
allow access to the helicopter to recover the crew members, despite
the calls by the OSCE chairperson-in-office's personal representative
and the International Committee of the Red Cross. To make the matters
worse, the Azebraijani side did not allow the OSCE representatives
to conduct a monitoring in the crash site.
"Keeping the crashed helicopter's crew under fire for days conflicts
with not only the norms of international humanitarian law -
particularly the provisions of the Geneva Convention[s] - but also
violates the principles of elementary morality and conscience. In case
of a chance to approach the crashed helicopter's pilots to deliver
medical aid, it could have been possible to save at least one of them.
"I call on you not to stand by idly and assist in the return of
the helicopter's crew to the Armenian side, as well as ensure a
comprehensive, unbiased and transparent probe into the incident,"
he added.
Armenian News - Tert.am