Artsakh Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Artak Beglaryan today reported that the relatives of Misha Melkumyan, an 84-year-old Armenian who died in captivity in Azerbaijan after being taken prisoner in the ongoing fighting, told him that the man did not have significant health problems before his captivity.

"It means that he was tortured and mistreated there, as a result of which, according to preliminary information, he died," said Beglaryan.

On November 1, through the mediation of the Red Cross, Misha Melkumyan's body was transferred to the Armenian side through the territory of Georgia.

Beglaryan also noted other cases of alleged Azerbaijani inhuman treatment of Artsakh civilians who did not take part in the hostilities.

"One of the citizens of Togh village, who fled from there, said that he was aware that one of their relatives,  a man called Major, was beheaded by Azerbaijani soldiers, and another 82-year-old man named Misha Stepanyan was killed," Beglaryan said, adding that this case is still being verified.

Beglaryan argued that Azerbaijani authorities directly encourage war crimes and inhuman treatment.

"The hatred of Armenians is so deep-rooted that killing any Armenian, even the mistreatment of corpses, is welcomed by the general public of Azerbaijan," Beglaryan said, adding that the risk of genocidal acts is very high in these conditions.

"We have serious suspicions that they have committed such crimes in all the settlements where Azerbaijani combatants have infiltrated," Beglaryan said.