Azerbaijani MFA responds to EU High Rep`s statement 

ArmInfo.Unfortunately, this response is yet another attempt by the EU High Representative to satisfy Armenians and make claims that have no moral or factual basis, and Azerbaijan denies these false and inflammatory allegations, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry declared this in response to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the EU Commission Josep Borrell's questions 

to the European Parliament members about "Armenian prisoners," Trend reports.

"After the 2020 war, as a humanitarian gesture and following its 

obligations under international humanitarian law, Azerbaijan released 

and repatriated more than 200 Armenians considered prisoners of war 

or detainees. All Armenian prisoners of war and civilians held in 

Azerbaijan were treated following the requirements of the Geneva 

Conventions of 1949 and were not subjected to torture, humiliation, 

or inhuman treatment.

Each of them had been provided with medical care while under arrest, 

they had undergone examinations, and the ICRC had held regular 

meetings with them and ensured contact with their families. 

Nevertheless, after they were returned from Azerbaijan to Armenia, 

some of these persons were arrested and interrogated by the Armenian 

authorities.

The remaining imprisoned war criminals, separatist leaders, and other 

persons of Armenian origin are either accused of war crimes, ethnic 

cleansing, military aggression, torture, and other serious crimes, 

have already been convicted of these crimes, or are still under 

investigation.

Following the Geneva Conventions, as well as international and 

national legislation in general, Azerbaijan has rights and 

obligations to investigate and prosecute such crimes. Such arrests 

have a full legal basis and do not infringe on the rights of the 

detainees.

Even if the detainees are prisoners of war, under Geneva Convention 

III, prisoners of war who are prosecuted for an offense for which 

they may be charged may be detained until a trial such as this one is 

completed and, if appropriate, until the completion of their 

sentence.

Furthermore, it would be more appropriate to draw the EU's attention 

to the evidence of the Armenian side's ill-treatment of Azerbaijani 

prisoners of war and civilian detainees, as well as missing 

Azerbaijanis.  Since the beginning of Armenia's military aggression, 

more than 3,890 Azerbaijanis have gone missing, and their fate 

remains unknown. Out of the missing, 3,171 are military personnel, 

and 719 (including 71 children, 267 women, and 326 elderly) are 

civilians.

Regarding comments on ensuring the rights of Armenians resettled in 

Armenia and other countries, it is important to recall that despite 

Azerbaijan's appeal for reintegration, program, and steps in this 

direction, local persons of Armenian origin have decided to leave 

Azerbaijan and not return.

Unfortunately, in almost 30 years, we have not witnessed any concerns 

or appeals from the EU regarding the rights of the nearly one million 

Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced persons who were 

forcibly and ruthlessly evicted from their homes.

Azerbaijan expects that at this crucial moment, the EU will refrain 

from biased statements undermining peace efforts in the region," the 

statement reads.

In his statement on the latest developments Josep Borrell said:

"The European Union welcomes the actions taken by Armenia and 

Azerbaijan and facilitated by Georgia that led to the release by 

Azerbaijan of 15 Armenian detainees and the handing over by Armenia 

of maps of mined areas on Saturday.

"These are important humanitarian and confidence building gestures by 

Baku and Yerevan that will hopefully open the path for further 

cooperation between the sides and the ultimate release of all 

Armenian detainees, as well as the handing over of all available maps 

of mined areas to avoid further civilian casualties. 

"The European Union and other international actors have actively 

encouraged moves in this direction and we urge further cooperation 

between the countries involved.

"We will continue to promote a durable and comprehensive settlement 

of the conflict, including where possible through support for 

stabilisation, post conflict rehabilitation and confidence building 

measures and reiterate our call on Armenia and Azerbaijan to reengage 

in substantive negotiations under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk 

Group Co-Chairs."