HRC51: Interactive dialogue on the Secretary General’s report on alleged reprisals against those who seek to cooperate or have cooperated with the United Nations, its representatives, and mechanisms: Delivered by Mrs. Zoya Stepanyan, First Secretary

29 September, 2022

Mr. President,

Armenia thanks the Assistant Secretary General for presenting the Report.

My country has been persistent in its advocacy for stronger human rights pillar and greater role and resources for UN human rights mechanisms to dispatch their protection and prevention mandates in the most effective and independent fashion.

With the aggressive militarism on the rise, Armenian people yet again witnessed horrors of the war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh and continue to face consequences of the recent aggression against sovereign territory of Armenia. But despite these profound shocks, Armenia stayed firm and committed to its progressive human rights agenda and peacebuilding.

At the same time, we are seriously concerned that random voices in Azerbaijani society calling for peace are being violently suppressed. The most recent case is the chair of Pro-Democracy movement Mr. Ahmad Mammadli who was allegedly abducted by plain cloth officers and now is sentenced to prison, days after he called for accountability for attacks on Armenia.

The fact that Azerbaijan simply ignores any criticism or query by the Special Procedures as well as the fact that Mr. Mammadli as hundreds of other Azerbaijani activists were deprived of the possibility to cooperate with the UN system, shouldn’t mean that they must be left behind the attention and protection of human rights machinery.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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