After 1994 : the treatment of Armenian prisoners of war

Abstract

The case study aimed at describing the treatment of POWs and civilian detainees by Azerbaijan. The analysis of documents and interviews, as well as discourse analysis of speeches, generated the following key findings affirming that Azerbaijan uses inhumane methods in the treatment of POWs and civilian detainees, mostly for anti-Armenian propaganda. As the literature reviewed showed (albeit in the earlier century), Azerbaijan mistreats POWs, subjecting them to physical and mental torture in this 21st century. Further, the analysis completed, including the correlations tested provide sufficient evidence of Azerbaijan’s current policies in the treatment of POWs and civilian detainees. Evidence of torture through various methods is confirmed in all completed analyses, also showing long-lasting health problems or death. The case study also found that the Armenian government provides repatriated POWs and detainees systematic medical treatment, psychological assistance, and financial support. There is sufficient evidence that no repatriated POW or civilian detainee has been imprisoned by Armenia (by records dating back to 1994). Overall, the evidence collected and analyzed lead to rejecting the hypothesis that the Azerbaijani government follows the provisions of the Geneva Conventions and human rights laws in treating POWs and detained civilians is rejected, and the null hypothesis is accepted. Strong evidence exists that the Azerbaijani government subjects Armenian captives to physical and psychological torture in serious violation of international laws. Moreover, all the aforementioned issues raised are military crimes that have consequences of criminal penalties and/or liability. This study should get the attention of the international community in terms of calling Azerbaijan to justice for the gross violations of accepted international policies and standards for the treatment of Armenian POWs and civilian detainees. Considering the absence of scientific studies on this topic, it is recommended that this study is continued on multiple levels and longitudinally. Scholars should look into this issue closely and conduct comparative studies on the treatment of POWs by Armenia versus Azerbaijan. It is timely to also assess the treatment of Azerbaijani POWs by the Armenian government and to analyze the opposite side of the case study. It is also recommended to carry out a study that aims to assess the role and authority of international organizations in the protection of POWs’ human rights. Such study could take a legal look at the extent to which international law has the power of oversight and punishment of breaches of existing provisions. An evaluation of the adequacy of such conventions and international policies is timely.