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Human Rights Watch Accuses Azerbaijan of Abusing Armenian POWs

VOA News

   Human Rights Watch accused Azerbaijani forces Wednesday of brutalizing
   some Armenian troops captured in the conflict over the disputed region
   of Nagorno-Karabakh.

   Acts of mistreatment were captured on video and circulated on social
   media over the past two months, HRW said.

   The rights group said in a statement the videos show "Azerbaijani
   captors variously slapping, kickingand prodding Armenian POWs" and
   forcing them to "kiss the Azerbaijani flag," praise Azerbaijan's
   president, swear at Armenia's prime minister "and declare that
   Nagorno-Karabakh is Azerbaijan."

   HRW official Hugh Williamson said humanitarian law requires that POWs
   be protected, and he called on Azerbaijani authorities to immediately
   end the inhumane treatment.

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