BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 24. The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsperson) of Azerbaijan Sabina Aliyeva received the Commissioner of the Council of Europe for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic, Trend reports.
The ombudsperson spoke about Azerbaijan's reforms related to the effective protection of human rights and freedoms, including amendments to the constitutional law "On the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan," and provided extensive information on human rights protection activities.
The ombudsperson also discussed Armenia's occupation and terrorist policies toward Azerbaijan, stating that around 4,000 Azerbaijanis went missing during the first Karabakh war, and Armenia has failed to disclose information on their fate. Aliyeva brought the aspirations of family members of missing persons to the attention of the Commissioner of the Council of Europe for Human Rights and sought for aid in explaining their fate within her jurisdiction.
Furthermore, Azerbaijan's Commissioner for Human Rights spoke about Armenia's mine terror in liberated territories, noting that, despite repeated appeals, accurate maps of minefields have not been handed over to Azerbaijan, and the mines installed by Armenia endanger people's lives and prevent former internally displaced persons from returning to their native lands.
The ombudsperson informed Mijatovic that more than 330 persons were killed by landmines following the end of the second Karabakh war. Furthermore, she spoke about Armenians destroying historical and religious sites and cemeteries belonging to Azerbaijanis during the thirty-year occupancy of Azerbaijani territory.
Aliyeva noted during the meeting that visits to detained persons are carried out within the framework of the National Preventive Mechanism, and the reception of these persons is carried out.
She also said that the focus is on ensuring and protecting the rights and freedoms of Armenian residents in Azerbaijan's Karabakh, informed about the possibilities of contacting the ombudsperson, and noted that appeals of citizens of Armenian origin were considered in the period before the second Karabakh war and appropriate measures were taken.
The sides also exchanged views on further cooperation between the two structures.