Armenian Legal Center condemns Armenia`s withdrawal  of  arrest  warrant  for Azerbaijani war crimes suspect

ArmInfo.The Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights operating within the Hay Dat  system and based in Washington, has strongly condemned the decision of the Armenian government to drop an international arrest warrant for Azerbaijani war criminal Kamil Zeynalli, as reported in Center's  statement received by ArmInfo from the press service of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). The  ALC statement reads as follows:

"The Armenian Legal for Justice and Human Rights (ALC) expresses  profound disappointment and concern over the outrageous recent  decision by Armenian authorities to withdraw the international arrest  warrant for Kamil Zeynalli, an Azerbaijani national accused of  heinous war crimes during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh)  conflict. Zeynalli is alleged to have been headed an elderly civilian  in Artsakh's Hadrut district, an act that constitutes a grave  violation of international humanitarian law.

This decision, reported linked to a 2007 agreement between Armenia  and Azerbaijan to refrain from international searches for each  other's citizens, undermines the fundamental principles of justice  and accountability. ALC firmly believes that agreements of this  nature cannot invalidate arrest warrants for war crimes, which are  universally recognized as crimes against humanity.  The withdrawal of  the warrant coincides with broader concessions by the Armenian  government in its negotiations with Azerbaijan, including the  withdrawal of lawsuits against filed Azerbaijan in international  tribunals. These actions have sparked outrage among human rights  advocates and opposition figures, who view them as an unacceptable  betrayal of the victims of the conflict and a dangerous precedent for  impunity. Turning away from international law - and the redress it  provides - undermines the foundation of all human relations  envisioned by conventions, treaties, and the rule of law, both  locally and internationally.

The Armenian Legal Center calls upon the Armenian government to  reconsider its decision and uphold its commitment to justice for the  victims of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Furthermore, we urge  international organizations and human rights bodies to intervene to  ensure that individuals accused of war crimes are held accountable."