Ombudsperson met with the US Ambassador to Azerbaijan

The Ombudsperson of Azerbaijan, Ms. Sabina Aliyeva received theAmbassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Earle D. Litzenberger on September 15, 2020.

Ombudsperson met with the US Ambassador to Azerbaijan

During the meeting, the Ombudsperson gave to the Ambassador broad information about the activities of the Ombudsman Institution. She said that during the period of COVID-19 pandemic, in the frame of the NPM activity, the places, which persons cannot leave on their own will, were monitored and the situation with ensuring detainees’ rights is in the focus of the Commissioner.

Taking into consideration the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ombudsperson expressed her concern about the health conditions of Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilgam Askerov
who are still kept as a hostages by Armenia since 2014. They were taken hostage by the armed forces of Armenia while visiting their native lands and graves of their parents in the occupied Kelbajar district of Azerbaijan.It was  mentioned that the Ombudsperson has many times raised this issue before the
international human rights organizations, as well as the ICRC, condemning severe torture and degrading treatment towards the hostages. Unfortunately,this issue has remained as a challenge. Therefore, she once again expressed her hope in due legal assessment by the international community regarding this issue and in support of the US in the return of Azerbaijani captives and hostages.

The US Ambassador thanked the Ombudsperson for the warm welcome. The Ambassador noted the development of economic, social, energy and security cooperation between two countries. He stressed that the Ombudsperson has a significant role in effective protection of human rights in the country. He also expressed his interest in supporting the cooperation on exchanging of knowledge and experience in the field of human rights.