Human Rights Watch has reminded Azerbaijan that the abuse of Armenian prisoners of war is a war crime.

Giorgi Gogia, senior South Caucasus researcher at Human Right Watch, said in a Twitter thread that following the November 16 fighting, the worst one since the end of Second Karabakh War, Azerbaijan has captured at least 13 Armenian soldiers.

"Scores of videos on social media show Azerbaijani forces subjecting POWs to cruel and degrading treatment in custody. Abusing POWs is a war crime," Gogia said.

"Abhorrent videos, which [Human Rights Watch] hasn't independently verified yet, show beating and kicking and stomping of Armenia POWs, as well as insults against their dignity. Geneva conventions protect POWs 'particularly against acts of violence or intimidation & against insult & public curiosity'."

Gogia noted that Azerbaijan should investigate all possible abuses and hold those responsible to account. Particularly, as some of the soldiers perpetrate the abuse with pride and don't even hide their faces.

"Azerbaijan is also bound by absolute prohibition on torture and other degrading treatment. Under III Geneva Convention, captured combatants should be afforded POW status and returned after hostilities end," he reminded.

Human Rights Watch documented a pattern of abuse of Armenian PoWs in Azerbaijan's custody last year. Dozens of videos of Azeri troops cutting the throats and ears of Armenians were spreading online beginning from the final days of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Azerbaijanis subject the Armenian POWs and captives to physical abuse and humiliation. The videos depict Azerbaijani captors variously slapping, kicking, and prodding Armenian POWs, and compelling them, under obvious duress and with the apparent intent to humiliate, to kiss the Azerbaijani flag. In most of the videos, the captors’ faces are visible, suggesting that they did not fear being held accountable.