Ombudsman: Artsakh resident tortured by Azeris before repatriation

A resident of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) who got lost on November 23 and found himself in territories controlled by Azerbaijan, was tortured before being returned to the Armenian side through the mediation of the Russian peacekeepers, Artsakh Ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan said on Wednesday, December 8.

The man was identified as Mihran Musayelyan was repatriated on November 26, and his medical examination revealed that he had been subjected to violence by the representatives of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.

“The conclusion of the forensic medical examination, which was presented by the Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Artsakh, confirmed that fact. The person received a number of injuries as a result of violence, torture and inhuman treatment by Azerbaijanis, in particular, more than 40 injuries, including scratches and hemorrhages were found on Musayelyan’s body, closed, blunt trauma of the chest with a fracture of the thoracic body, accompanied by damage to the thoracic organs, the development of left subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum, which caused severe life-threatening health damage,” Stepanyan said.

“The Azerbaijani side is displaying special cruelty and violence against the Armenian captives, persons under Azerbaijani control, on the basis of ethnic-religious hatred. This situation is a direct consequence of the anti-Armenian policy pursued at the highest state level in Azerbaijan over the years.”