Azerbaijan on Wednesday, December 9 returned the body of an elderly civilian captive who died in an Azerbaijani prison in unknown circumstances, Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Human Rights Defender Artak Beglaryan revealed Wednesday.

Three elderly civilians were returned to the Armenian side from Azerbaijan as they have serious health issues, Beglaryan added.

The Human Rights Defender said their return was arranged with the mediation of the Russian peacekeeping force. He said the civilians were captured because they hadn't managed to leave their settlements before the arrival of the Azerbaijani army.

Although the sides have approved the "all in exchange for all" principle when it comes to the swap of prisoners of war and captives, Azerbaijan drags the process for unknown reasons. Videos showing the inhuman treatment of the Armenian POWs and their execution have been spreading online for months already.