An independent international researcher attempted to enter a Baku court building to attend the trial of Armenian prisoners of war and prepare an article. Baku's special services attempted to intimidate the independent researcher upon discovering the purpose of their attempt to enter the court. Regarding the matter, Siranush Sahakyan, head of the "Center for International and Comparative Law," answered questions from the "Haylur" program on the 5th Channel. According to the human rights defender, the researcher was subjected to harassment during their stay in Azerbaijan.
"The researcher managed to find the court building with great difficulty, but entry was blocked," emphasized Sahakyan, adding that the researcher does not represent the interests of the Armenian prisoners and has no connection to them. They were present to attend the trial as an independent observer to later present the facts in their own articles.
Even employees of diplomatic missions accredited in Baku and diplomats were unable to enter the Baku military court building. "Here, the law is naturally aligned with international standards, and the law is simply not respected. International standards state that every member of the public has the right to be present at public, open court hearings."
Baku has tightened the organization of visits and phone calls with Armenian prisoners of war. Sahakyan reported that it has been two months since employees of the Red Cross have been unable to visit the prisoners of war sentenced to imprisonment in Baku. Siranush Sahakyan believes that the reason for these obstacles is to conceal traces of torture and ill-treatment. She also noted that cases of sudden death have become more frequent among the families of prisoners of war and the missing in recent times, which testifies to the intense mental suffering caused by prolonged uncertainty and stress.