Yerevan slams Azerbaijan's barring of ICRC visit to Armenian officerSeptember 18, 2020 - 13:14 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Azerbaijan's obstructing of a visit by the representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross to Armenian officer Gurgen Alaverdyan is a gross violation of Baku's commitments to the international humanitarian law, Armenian Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan said on Thursday, September 17. Tonoyan was meeting Claire Meytraud, the head of the ICRC Delegation to Armenia in Yerevan. The Defense Minister weighed in on videos spread by Azerbaijani media about Alaverdyan and expressed the Armenian side's concern over the matter. At the same time, Tonoyan thanked Meytraud for the ICRC's efforts in protecting the rights of prisoners of war and civilians under the jurisdiction of Azerbaijan. Alaverdyan went missing after he left his post to inspect the checkpoint during bad weather on August 22, according to Defense Ministry spokeswoman Shushan Stepanyan. The Azerbaijani side reported that the Armenian officer was taken prisoner after a failed sabotage, but Stepanyan has refuted the claims as disinformation. Armenia's Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan said earlier that footage published by Azerbaijani soldiers testify to the gross violations of Alaverdyan's rights. Top stories David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Partner news | Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. |