THE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDEROF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIAAD HOC PUBLIC REPORTA PARK OF KILLED ARMENIAN SOLDIERS ANDCHAINED PRISONERS OF WAR OPENED IN BAKU:A MUSEUM OF HUMAN SUFFERINGS ANDPROMOTION OF RACISMYEREVAN2021

CONTENTINTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................................... 3I.THE STATEMENT OF ARMENIA’S HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER ON THE PARK-MUSEUM OFHUMAN SUFFERINGS IN BAKU........................................................................................................................... 4II.MESSAGES OF THE PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN SPREADING HATRED AND ARMENOPHOBIA(RECENT EXAMPLES) ............................................................................................................................................ 6III. INTERNATIONAL BODIES AND MEDIA WITH REGARD TO THE PARK .......................................... 9IV. THE WAX FIGURES OF THE ARMENIAN MILITARY SERVICEMEN, INCLUDING PRISONERSOF WAR DISPLAYED IN THE PARK (PHOTO-EVIDENCE) ........................................................................ 12V. PRAISING OF THE PARK IN AZERBAIJANI SOCIAL MEDIA ............................................................... 242

INTRODUCTION
This report discusses the so-called Trophy Park, an “exhibition-park” related to the September-November
2020 war in Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) which was opened in Baku on April 12, 2021. The “Park”
demonstrates wax figures of the Armenian military servicemen. All of them are presented in a degradingmanner to humiliate dignity, in a way openly violating human dignity.
The Human Rights Defender of Armenia received numerous complaints and alarms from parents andrelatives of Armenian prisoners of war held captive in Azerbaijan, as well as missing persons.
The monitoring of the Armenia’s Human Rights Defender’s Staff revealed posts in Azerbaijani social
media about the exhibition which only welcomed and encouraged the initiative of the Azerbaijani authorities
and the comments illustrating its impact on the state of hatred and hostility towards Armenians.
The mentioned materials were disseminated and still continue to be spread through Facebook, Twitterand other social media networks. The analyzed data shows a worrying trend of deepening Armenophobia inAzerbaijan.
The current report presents the monitoring results of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia onperception of the fact of existence of the “park-museum” of human sufferings in Baku.

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I. THE STATEMENT OF ARMENIA’S HUMAN
RIGHTS DEFENDER ON THE PARK-MUSEUM OF
HUMAN SUFFERINGS IN BAKUAn “exhibition-park”, called a Trophy park, dedicated to the September-November 2020 war was openedin Baku today, on April 12, 2021.
In the “Park”, along with the Armenian military equipment, wax figures of the Armenian military
servicemen have been displayed, all of which presented in a degrading manner, in a manner violating humandignity. This is done to ensure the widest possible publicity.
It is obvious from the published videos and photos of the “Park” that the exhibition was designed toincrease and encourage hatred and animosity towards the population of Armenia and Artsakh, the citizensof Armenia. Exhibitions are with cynicism to publicly humiliate the memory of the victims of the war, therights of missing persons and captives, to violate the rights and dignity of their families.
Personal belongings of the soldiers of Armenia and Artsakh are displayed with the same cynicism, andthe helmets of the killed soldiers are displayed knowing that it will cause additional suffering to theirfamilies, to the Armenian and Artsakh society, and will generate new hatred in the Azerbaijani society.
The Azerbaijani authorities also showed scenes of Armenian prisoners in the opened “park”. This step is
especially reprehensible against the background that in Azerbaijan, prisoners of war and civilians continue
to be held illegally, in gross violation of international human rights requirements.
The “park” is a clear manifestation of racism and related violence representing a serious immediate
danger for Armenian prisoners of war.
It is obvious to the Azerbaijani authorities that this sensitive issue would cause mental pain and sufferingto the families of the missing persons and captives, as well as to the Armenian society in general.
It should be mentioned that there are long queues to visit the “park” 1. Moreover, a “park-museum” ofhuman sufferings is also open for children, even under 6 years old.
The opening of such a “park” clearly confirms the fact of institutional hatred towards Armenians in
Azerbaijan and existence of a state policy of propaganda of animosity. This policy has been consistently
implemented for years, confirmed by concrete evidence.

1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJJCsvsPg9o4

The consequences of this policy are the atrocities and torture, killings of Armenian military servicemen
and civilians by Azerbaijani Armed Forces in the 2020 September-November war; the 2016 April war orother Azerbaijani armed attacks on the.
State-sponsored hostility was the reason why the Azerbaijani military brutally tortured and killed
Armenian servicemen and civilians, being with open faces and with exceptional cynicism, without eventhinking about responsibility, and being confident that they would only be praised for that.
Therefore, the demonstrations in the “park” dedicated to the September-November 2020 war clearlyreaffirm existence of the Azerbaijani genocidal policy towards the entire population of Armenia andArtsakh.
The park is yet another phenomenon which only enreaches root causes of torture and cruelties;
undermines peace and solidarity in the region.

5II.

MESSAGES OF THE PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJANSPREADING HATRED AND ARMENOPHOBIA(RECENT EXAMPLES)

The opening of the Trophy park in Baku is a clear evidence of the state policy of Armenophobia, animosity,and racism amounting to fascism.
In his public speeches and messages, the president of Azerbaijan continues to insult, spew ethnic hatred andArmenophobia at the highest state level, and carry out public propaganda of animosity against Armenians.
The atrocities and the torture committed by servicemen of the Azerbaijani armed forces are the results of thementionned policy.

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The root causes of all these are substantiated by the evidence of the joint ad hoc public report of the HumanRights Defenders of Armenia and Artsakh “On organized hate speech and animosity towards ethnic Armenians
in Azerbaijan as root causes of ethnically-based torture and inhuman treatment by Azerbaijani Armed Forces” 2.
Below are some examples of messages of the President of Azerbaijan. These messages also emphasize
advantages of the Azerbaijani people (morality, intellectual abilities, etc.) compared to and toward the entire
population of Armenia and Artsakh, the entire Armenian people, at the expense of public humiliation of dignity,and open distortion of historical facts.

At the opening of the park, the president of Azerbaijan stated: “An Armenian is a barbarian who digs
graves, digs and removes the golden teeth of the dead.” 3

In his nationwide address, he stated: “Azerbaijani soldiers expel them (Armenians) like dogs”. 4

Nationwide address of Ilham Aliyev: “We will continue to expel these (Armenians) liars. They see
who is who now. They see that we were teaching them a lesson they will never forget. (…) They haveneither conscience nor morality. They don’t even have the brain.” 5“Yerevan is our historical land we, the Azerbaijanis will go back to these historical lands. It is ourpolitical and strategic goal, and we gradually reach it”. 6

The ad hoc public report is available at https://ombuds.am/images/files/2032f021fe81176414a649d588ad0e86.pdf
https://president.az/articles/51067
4
The
video
isavailable
inRussianat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eAVs7fjUFM//
https://www.voltairenet.org/article211050.html
5Nationwide address of President Ilham Aliyev (20 October 2020) https://defence.az/en/news/147408/azerbaijani-presidentilham-aliyev-addresses-nation-on-tv-%C2%A0live
6
https://president.az/articles/51067
237

“For 30 years, it (meaning Artsakh and Fizuli (Varanda), in particular) was in the hands of wild beasts,in the hands of predators, in the hands of jackals. The remains of the city of Fuzuli are a manifestationof Armenian fascism and a witness to Armenian fascism”. 7

Armenia as a country is of no value. It is actually a colony, an outpost run from abroad, a territory
artificially created on ancient Azerbaijani lands”. 8

President Ilham Aliyev addresses the nation (17 October 2020) https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/3318553.html;the video
is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVdWkPPlle48
https://twitter.com/presidentaz/status/270827003521929216
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III. INTERNATIONAL BODIES AND MEDIA WITHREGARD TO THE PARK(EXAMPLES)
Ms. Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights: “(…) It showsdehumanising scenes, including wax mannequins depicting dead and dying Armenians soldiers. I
consider such images highly disturbing and humiliating. This kind of display can only further
intensify and strengthen long-standing hostile sentiments and hate speech, and multiply andpromote manifestations of intolerance. Even more so, such developments significantly hamper any
chance of genuine reconciliation among the communities affected by the conflict” 9.

Ms. Heidi Hautala, Vice-President of the European Parliament: “This theme park in Azerbaijan isbeyond disgusting. Primary school-age kids on the opening day exposed to such warmongering.” 10Mr. Loucas Fourlas, a member of the European Parliament: “I submitted an urgent written
question to the European Commission. I demanded actions on the unacceptable “park of trophies”
featuring helmets of Armenian soldiers killed in action, created by the Azerbaijani authorities.
Those actions do not promote peace and trust in the region.” 11

Mr. Costas Mavrides, a member of the European Parliament: “The opening of a “park” by
Azerbaijan exhibiting helmets of the slain Armenian soldiers and other “war trophies” is a

https://rm.coe.int/letter-to-mr-ilham-aliyev-president-of-the-republic-of-azerbaijan-by-m/1680a2364c
https://twitter.com/HeidiHautala/status/1384176944229486599
11
https://twitter.com/loucas_fourlas/status/1382264003779571713
9109disgrace to humanity and promotes hatred towards Armenians. I asked EU to take a clear standand exert its influence to end this immediately.” 12

Mr. Nikos Androulakis, a member of the European Parliament: “A memorial of barbarism with“trophies” from the recent Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, such as helmets and figures of deadArmenian soldiers, insulting their memory in a heinous way. International organisations cannot
remain silent to these medieval practices that shame humanity”. 13

H.E. Mr. Jonathan Lacôte, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic ofFrance to Armenia: “I fully understand and share the feelings of Armenian society with respect
to the opening of the so-called ‘park’ in Baku. I recently visited the Yerablur Military Pantheon.
We see that there are a lot of victims and casualties and that the families are suffering, but it isalso a place where there is dignity. War is not something to be staged. Now the priority is tofind a solution to the conflict.” 14Mr. Gabrielius Landsbergis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania: “(…) It is not normal towitness a “War trophy park” in the 21st century. I am going to visit Baku and express the sameopinion. Disrespect toward any victim is unacceptable, and no violence should be glorified.
This is a principle I believe.” 15

https://twitter.com/MavridesCostas/status/1383074522656555008
https://www.facebook.com/androulakisnikosgr/posts/1922089294633297
14
https://news.am/arm/news/638702.html
15
https://mediamax.am/en/news/foreignpolicy/42941/
12
13

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Mr. John Marshall Evans, former US ambassador to Armenia: “This is totally beyond the Pale.
Racist, degrading, indeed, redolent of genocidal intent. Condemn it at OSCE!” 16

Mr. Neil Hauer, contributor to CNN and the Guardian: “Basically this is example #364,486 fromthe postwar period alone why it’s just foolish to think there will ever be Armenian-Azerbaijan
reconciliation while Aliyev is in power” 17.
“(…) Casually brainwashing the next generation with hatred, just a Tuesday in Azerbaijan.” 18

Ms. Lindsey Snell, an American journalist: “It’s not surprising that so many AZ soldiers
recorded themselves committing brutal war crimes. This kind of depravity is encouraged andcelebrated at a state level.” 19

Mr. Jake Hanrahan, a British journalist: “This is hideous. The Azerbaijan regime has created
what is essentially a war crimes theme park for Aliyev. Unbelievable. See this thread.
Barbaric. No other word for it.” 20

https://twitter.com/EvansinAmerica/status/1381852467684642816
https://jam-news.net/war-trophies-park-in-baku-sparks-controversy-domestically-and-abroad/18
https://twitter.com/NeilPHauer/status/1382425337628332039
19
https://twitter.com/LindseySnell/status/1381602041429102596
20https://twitter.com/Jake_Hanrahan/status/1382449204967133185
161711

IV. THE WAX FIGURES OF THE ARMENIANMILITARY SERVICEMEN, INCLUDING PRISONERSOF WAR DISPLAYED IN THE PARK (PHOTOEVIDENCE)

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V. PRAISING OF THE PARK IN AZERBAIJANI SOCIALMEDIAA question asked by a journalist: Did you create Armenian images based on any examples or isit a product of your fantasies?
The answer of creators of Armenian wax figures.
R. Maharramov: “I researched facts about Armenians in the media. Of course, this is a productof my ideas, and not images of any specific people.”
K. Asadov: “We tried to create the ugliest images. We usually try to do something beautiful.
But now it was the other way around. It was a long and difficult process. We gave them hooked
noses, flat heads and other features.”21

https://zartonkmedia.com/2021/04/14/creators-of-armenian-wax-figures-we-tried-to-create-the-ugliestimages/?fbclid=IwAR0nnfczWCDJol-MvKIf_lTtOoROO4EwRjSSsUoDo7iSg88OOzD5X4U-J2w
2124The Trophy park: A scene from the battle. Vazgens were tied up like a dog sothat they would not escape.

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Evident instances of mockery, insult and hate speech towards the wax figures of theArmenian military servicemen (video) 22.

22

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Atp94-8kDus

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Mr. President, please put the model of this comrade in the Trophy park.

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Baku Trophy park.12.04. I would like to congratulate the people who created thesemodels and worked hard. All the traits of the vile, the shameless, the immoral, thetraitors, the cunning, the executioners were accurately depicted.

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Baku Trophy Park. Friends, let me see how big the shameless eyes are on these models.
Long live the creators! They seem to be afraid of a drone coming. In the case of thesecond model, it is the right word of our Mr. President. “Why are you hiding here andthere like a rat?”

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The Trophy park is a lesson for revanchists, another "Iron Fist" warning.

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The ammunition park is not just a park. This place is a symbol that forms themindset and spirit of the victorious people and will be of exceptional
importance in the upbringing of the victorious young generation.

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Tomorrow, the most bomb park of Azerbaijan, the Trophy Park, wasinaugurated. It is very well organized .
Super. I've been waiting for a long time. Will it be open every day?

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Erevan, Zangezur, Goycha (Sevan) will be the next stop.

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We are a forgetful nation. Therefore, I want the display of these spoils and models
to be long-lasting, because the future generation must recognize the enemy of thenation and remember it with hatred.
It would be good to open a similar museum in Khojaly.

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We crushed thoughts like “Democracy, West" with an “iron fist”, crushing
their heads, crushing them in the war on our own. That is why preach withyour heads held high!

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I wonder what is this? Is it true or is it a mannequin?
Vazgen, greetings to Yasamal boys.
I can not break the chains. It's prickly, I can not touch.
Great, they deserve worse than this.

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“Very nice, very nice.”“Creating such a park is a great step.”“Very beautiful, let everyone see the power of our army.”

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