The Russian side urges Azerbaijan and Armenia to immediately conduct a comprehensive analysis of videos with shootings of servicemen for signs of war crimes. In case the facts are confirmed, all the perpetrators must be brought to justice, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in a commentary released on Monday.
"The mentioned videos are replete with footage of extreme cruelty. All cases of violations of international humanitarian law should be thoroughly investigated. We urge the Azerbaijani and Armenian authorities to immediately conduct a comprehensive in-depth analysis of these videos, including for signs of war crimes. If the facts are confirmed, all perpetrators must be brought to justice to the fullest extent of the law," the diplomat said when asked to comment on the video footage in question.
Zakharova stressed that Moscow continues to make "serious efforts to improve the situation in the region" and normalize relations between Baku and Yerevan. "We assume that there is no alternative to peace. We are ready to provide the necessary assistance to the parties," she added.
Earlier, a video showing Azerbaijani servicemen allegedly shooting a group of Armenian prisoners of war appeared in the Armenian social media. Armenian Defense Ministry spokesperson Aram Torosyan on Sunday described the video as real, saying it was "the handwriting of the Azerbaijani armed forces," but the location and time of the incident have not yet been established.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: Master Sgt. Christopher DeWitt/Creative Commons 2.0
Based on materials from TASS