Former Artsakh state minister calls Baku's offer on prisoners "bait"
YEREVAN, December 26. /ARKA/. The offer from the Prosecutor General’s Office of Azerbaijan to Armenia to cooperate on the issue of Armenian prisoners is nothing more than another bait or political demand. This was stated on Thursday by former State Minister and former Ombudsman of Artsakh, Artak Beglaryan, who added that this demand could further become a subject of negotiations and an additional political lever against Armenia and the Armenian people.
"With this proposal, they are trying to create conditions where Armenia would be forced to reject it. In that case, the international community may view such a step as 'destructive.' However, this also presents an opportunity for Armenia. For example, it can raise all such issues and take more proactive and decisive actions regarding all the prisoners and political prisoners in Baku," Beglaryan said on Thursday.
According to him, this is also an opportunity to bring up issues related to an investigation by the International Criminal Court. In this case, official Yerevan could demand cooperation from Baku on these matters. The Rome Statute, to which Armenia is a signatory, could have a particularly positive impact on this process.
He expressed confidence that if Armenia were to make such a counterproposal, the Azerbaijani side would be forced to reject it, as Baku is not ready to cooperate on any issue.
"Here, Armenia has a real opportunity to reasonably demonstrate the lack of guilt of the Artsakh leaders who are in captivity, while also highlighting the crimes committed by officials or military personnel of the Republic of Azerbaijan," Beglaryan noted.
He also reminded that dozens of rulings from the European Court of Human Rights on claims by Armenians have not been implemented by Azerbaijani authorities.
"I consider this should become one of the topics of political negotiations," Beglaryan concluded.
About the Armenian prisoners in Baku
Azerbaijan officially confirms that it is holding only 33 Armenian prisoners of war and civilians, but Armenian human rights activists claim that there are another 80 Armenian prisoners.
The following are under arrest in Azerbaijan: former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, former presidents Bako Sahakyan and Arkady Ghukasyan, former Speaker of the Parliament David Ishkhanyan, former Foreign Minister David Babayan, former Deputy Commander of the Artsakh Defense Army David Manukyan. Among those arrested are former President Arayik Harutyunyan and former Commander of the Defense Army Levon Mnatsakanyan.
