YEREVAN. – Russian Foreign Ministry deeply regrets the deaths caused by unsettled Karabakh conflict, spokesperson Alexander Lukashevich said.

His comment came in response to inquiry on Karen Petrosytan’s death in Azerbaijani captivity.

“We deeply regret that the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is accompanied by human losses, death of people, and not only during the clashes. We express deep condolences to the families and friends of K.Petrosyan and to other families of Armenians and Azerbaijanis who have lost their lives. We consider it necessary to conduct thorough investigations into such incidents,” he said.

The Russian Ministry has urged the parties for practical use of the provisions of the Joint Statement of the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia and the Russian Federation as of 27 October 2010 on the return of bodies with the assistance of the OSCE Minsk Group and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Karen Petrosyan, a resident of Chinari village, was taken captive on August 7, and on the next day Azerbaijani side reported about his death of “a heart failure”. Armenian investigation committee has launched a criminal case.

source: news.am

STANBUL – Anadolu Agency

Ali Uçkun was found hanged in a cell at Istanbul’s Metris prison July 9. AA Photo

The death of the man imprisoned for attempting to pull down a Turkish flag should be investigated, Turkish human rights activists said July 14.

Ali Uçkun, 28, was found hanged in a cell at Istanbul’s Metris prison July 9, 10 days after he had been arrested while trying to pull down a flag at a police station.

Uçkun was charged with “propagating a terrorist organization,” “committing crime on behalf of a terrorist organization” and “publicly humiliating the Turkish national flag.”

“We do not condone the incident [of June 28]. However, Uçkun was diagnosed with schizophrenia [80 percent] and should have been hospitalized for treatment instead of being put in jail,” Turkey-based Human Rights Association’s chairman Abdulbaki Boga told reporters on July 14, before filing a criminal complaint about the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor.

“The issue of an arrest order for a schizophrenic, instead of hospitalization, constitutes a crime on the part of the prosecutor and judge, who had succumbed to rage,” the letter states, adding Uçkun’s death appears suspicious and the incident hints the signs of murder as a result of neglect on the part of prison guards.

The group called on all perpetrators to be tried for premeditated murder, criminal abuse of duty, and torture.

Initial police reports stated Uçkun had committed suicide by hanging himself and the corpse was transferred to the Forensic Medicine Institute for further examination and an autopsy.

Russia calls for thorough investigation into Karen Petrosyan’s death

Turkey Death of prisoner who pulled Turkish flag down is ‘suspicious’