Rights defender doubts Armenian MoD's data on POWs

Siranush Saakyan, a human rights defender, is sure that the real number of Armenian soldiers taken prisoners of war (POWs) during the November 16 hostilities is more than reported by the Armenian Ministry of Defence (MoD).

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 16, armed clashes broke out on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, which ended after negotiations held by the parties with the Russian Defence Minister. Azerbaijan reported that its seven military servicemen perished and 10 others were wounded; Armenia reported one casualty. According to the Armenian MoD, 13 soldiers have been taken POWs; and 24 others are missing. Azerbaijan has handed the bodies of three militaries over to Armenia.

Siranush Saakyan, who is representing the interests of Armenian POWs at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), believes that the figures of the Armenian MoD are unreliable. According to her calculations, the number of POWs, exceeds three dozen. "I don't exclude that the POWs killed in Baku were among the death toll," Ms Saakyan has stated.

According to her version, human rights defenders have asked the ECtHR to ensure the life and health of Armenian militaries.