Beheading videos from Nagorno-Karabakh

Following the confirmation of authenticity of beheading videos from Nagorno-Karabakh, the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) calls for an independent investigation – emphasizing that all alleged war crimes committed during the six-week conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan must be fully investigated. "The Azerbaijani side has no interest in investigating any war crimes committed by its soldiers," stated Ulrich Delius, the STP's director in Göttingen today. "Thus, an independent international investigation is essential. The German government and the European Commission should insist on such an investigation and also offer their support."

For the time being, the renewed war in Nagorno-Karabakh ended with a ceasefire agreement brokered by Russia. The agreement attests the significant territorial losses Armenia suffered as a result of the Azerbaijani offensive. "The consequences of the agreement are triumphalism on the Azerbaijani side and humiliation on the Armenian side. Mutual resentment could cause the conflict to flare up again at any time," Delius said. "That is why it is particularly important to investigate war crimes and to punish those who are responsible. Impunity will only fuel hatred and bring new violence."

The war in the long-disputed mountainous region began in late September this year. Then, the fighting ended with the temporary ceasefire agreement of November 9. According to the Russian government, which had sought a cease-fire several times before, more than 5,000 people got killed since then. Thousands of Syrian mercenaries had fought on the side of Azerbaijan on behalf of Turkey.