Ombudsman: A crucial humanitarian process is currently underway with  regards to human rights protection

ArmInfo.A crucial humanitarian process is currently underway with regards to human  rights protection. This especially refers to the exchange of bodies  of killed persons and the return of prisoners of war and civilian  captives. This is stated in the statement of  Human Rights Defender  of Armenia Arman Tatoyan.

Thus, as the press service of the RA Human Rights Defender reports,  the statement, in particular, reads:  "Late yesterday evening,  Azerbaijani media sources reported that military fights had resumed  between Armenian and Azerbaijani armed forces near the village of  Togh in Hadrut Province (Azerbaijani:  village of Aghdam (Hakaku) in  the Khojavend District). Azerbaijani media sources also reported  about casualties on both sides. The same information later stated the   Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan.  

Immediately after the publication of this news, I applied to the  Ministry of Defense of Armenia and the Defense Army of Artsakh with  urgent official inquiries. Both agencies strongly denied the  spreading information, assuring that the ceasefire regime is strictly  observed, and military units have not taken part in any operation in  the area, as well as they claimed that no emergency incidents were  reported in connection with the units of the Defense Army. 

Later on the same issues, the December 28, 2020 public statements of  the Ministry of Defense and the Defense Army were published.   Furthermore, monitoring of the Human Rights Defender's Office has  revealed that at around 12:45pm, on December 28 the Iranian  "MiranPress" telegram channel, citing its sources, reported that the  incident in the Hadrut region had not taken place between Artsakh's  and Azerbaijani armed forces, but Azerbaijani servicemen shot at each  other, which resulted in three victims.  

In the capacity of Armenia's Human Rights Defender, I expressly  emphasize that a crucial humanitarian process is currently underway  with regards to human rights protection. This especially refers to  the exchange of bodies of killed persons and the return of prisoners  of war and civilian captives. 

I specifically warn that any provocation or statement that leads to  an armed conflict in the post-war period cannot disrupt the process  of returning war prisoners and civilian captives and exchanging  bodies.  

I recall that as a baseline fact, it should be taken as a basis that  provisions of the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020, regarding  the complete ceasefire and the cessation of all hostilities, the  parties undertook to maintain, which has not been disputed by any  party's authority.  Therefore, any factor, including periodically  published untrue information on armed conflicts by the Azerbaijani  sources or any provocation of arm conflict cannot be a reason for the  disruption or suspension of the most important humanitarian process,  particularly in connection with the return of war prisoners and  civilian captives and the exchange of bodies.  

Hence, I call upon the international community and specifically  international bodies with human rights protection mandate, to pay  scrupulous attention to the current situation in order to ensure  continuity and acceleration of such a humanitarian mission as well as  to exclude any obstacles to its normal course.  This statement will  be sent to competent international bodies with my separate signature.  

Issues related to the human rights and humanitarian law protection in  the post-war period will continue to be in immediate attention of  Armenia's Human Rights Defender."