Civilnet
The Armenian National Committee of America issued a press release on August 16 welcoming a statement made by the US State Department regarding the death of Armenian villager Karen Petrosyan while in Azerbaijani captivity. The ANCA said that following an August 15 media inquiry about the incident, the State Department issued the following statement:
"The United States is deeply concerned by reports on the death of Karen Petrosyan while in Azerbaijan’s custody and by allegations that his death was not due to natural causes. The United States offers its sincere condolences to Mr. Petrosyan’s family. We call on the Government of Azerbaijan to conduct a full and transparent investigation into this incident and to make its findings public. We remind the governments of Azerbaijan and Armenia of their obligations under international humanitarian law, especially their obligation to treat humanely all those taken into custody. We call on both Armenia and Azerbaijan to grant the International Committee of the Red Cross access to all detainees and internees held for conflict-related reasons."
ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian said, "The ANCA welcomes the State Department's expression of concern regarding Azerbaijan's actions, joins with all Americans in extending our condolences to the Petrosyan family, and supports our government's call upon Azerbaijan to conduct a full and transparent investigation into this incident and to make its findings public.”
On Thursday, August 7, Karen Petrosyan from the border village of Chinari inadvertently crossed the Armenian-Azerbaijani state border and was subsequently captured by Azerbaijani armed forces. While in captivity he was made to wear military fatigues and paraded on Azerbaijani television. The following day, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense announced that Petrosyan had died of alleged heart failure. The International Committee of the Red Cross is currently trying to arrange Petrosyan’s repatriation.
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