Thread on new report on ill-treatment & abuse of Armenian POWs:

1/ @hrw documented inhumane treatment of ethnic Armenian military troops captured by #Azerbaijan forces during #Karabakh conflict: https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/12/02/azerbaijan-armenian-prisoners-war-badly-mistreated

2/ In recent weeks dozens of videos were posted on social media depicting abuse of Armenian Prisoners of War (POWs). @hrw closely examined 14 & spoke with the families of five POWs whose abuse was depicted. The videos were posted to Telegram & Instagram channels & accounts.

3/ The videos depict Azerbaijani captors variously slapping, kicking, & prodding POWs, & compelling them, under obvious duress & with the apparent intent to humiliate, to kiss the Azerbaijani flag, praise Azerbaijani President & swear at Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan...

4/ In most of the videos, the captors’ faces are visible, suggesting that they didn't fear accountability.

There can be no justification for the violent and humiliating treatment of POWs, & Azerbaijan’s authorities should ensure that this treatment ends immediately!

5/ International humanitarian law requires parties to an international armed conflict to treat POWs humanely in all circumstances. The third Geneva Convention protects POWs “particularly against acts of violence or intimidation and against insults and public curiosity.”

6/ The servicemen who carried out these abuses had no qualms about being filmed. It's essential for #Azerbaijan to prosecute those responsible for these crimes on the basis of both direct criminal liability & command responsibility. Read full account here: https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/12/02/azerbaijan-armenian-prisoners-war-badly-mistreated