Armenian PM says that the issue of prisoners in Azerbaijan is discussed at all negotiations

YEREVAN, July 16. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that the issue of prisoners in Azerbaijan is discussed at all negotiations.

“There are no negotiations, there is no conversation, when this issue is not given the due and necessary place. There is no such thing,” Pashinyan said at a press conference on Wednesday.

He was asked about a media publication that he refused to contact US President Donald Trump on the issue of Armenian prisoners, in particular, to mediate in the release of former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan.

Pashinyan said that he was not aware of this publication and cannot specifically comment on what he himself has not read or heard.

On Armenian prisoners in Baku

Azerbaijan officially confirms the fact of holding only 33 Armenian prisoners of war and civilians, but Armenian human rights activists claim that there are another 80 Armenian prisoners.

Since January 17, the so-called trial of 15 Armenian prisoners of war has been underway in Baku. Among them are the former State Minister of Artsakh Ruben Vardanyan, former Presidents of the Republic Bako Sahakyan, Arkady Ghukasyan and Arayik Harutyunyan, former Speaker of the Parliament David Ishkhanyan, former Foreign Minister and former Assistant to the President of the NKR David Babayan, former Commander of the Defense Army Levon Mnatsakanyan, former Deputy Commander of the Defense Army of Artsakh David Manukyan.