Simonyan: “If we make visible steps, captured Armenians may never return from Azerbaijan”
YEREVAN, March 4. /ARKA/. The speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Alen Simonyan said that work is underway to return Armenian prisoners of war held in Azerbaijan.
“There is so much talk about the captives in Azerbaijan, so much noise is being raised. You forget that there were more than 150 confirmed Armenian captives, and we are returning these people through various negotiations if possible. Over the last four years we have returned more than 150 prisoners, and there are 23 confirmed persons still in Azerbaijan, including former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh,” he said at a press briefing.
In response to the journalists' remark that the authorities in Yerevan are accused of lack of visible steps to this end, Simonyan replied, “If we make visible steps, these prisoners may never return.”
“I will say more: nowadays, no international meeting or discussion - regardless of whether it concerns ecology, solar energy or serious political issues - passes without our representatives raising the topic of the prisoners and dealing with this issue,” he said, noting that he personally raises the issue at meetings with his Azerbaijani counterpart.
At the same time, he rejected accusations that the Armenian authorities are not interested in the release of Karabakh ex-leaders. “They are our compatriots and all necessary steps have been and will be taken for bringing them to Armenia,” the speaker said.
Officially, Azerbaijan confirms holding only 33 Armenian prisoners of war and civilians, but Armenian human rights advocates claim there are another 80 Armenian captives. On January 17, a so-called trial began in Baku for 15 Armenian prisoners of war. Among them are former Artsakh State Minister 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 Defense Army Commander Levon Mnatsakanyan, and former Deputy Commander of the Defense Army of
On February 27, 28 Armenian organizations sent an open letter to the President of the ICRC, Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, urging her to call for the immediate release of Ruben Vardanyan and other Armenian political prisoners unlawfully held in Azerbaijan.
On the same day, the Aznavour Foundation and 10 Armenian organizations appealed to the international community to take urgent and decisive action regarding the cruel treatment of Ruben Vardanyan in Azerbaijan, and to take a firm stance against the Aliyev regime.
On February 28, the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement expressing concern over reports about the "trials" of 23 Armenian prisoners, as well as information released by their lawyers. This included news about Ruben Vardanyan, who has been on a hunger strike, and the pressure, torture, and apparent deterioration of the prisoners' health.
During the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk specifically addressed the issue of arbitrarily detained persons, including ethnic Armenians, in Azerbaijan. In his comprehensive report, he stated that “they must be released immediately and their right to a fair trial must be fully respected.”
This information was shared by the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the UN Office in Geneva, operating under the Armenian Embassy in Switzerland.
The High Commissioner also emphasized that he is closely following the peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, expressing hope that they “will lead to the search for truth, healing and reconciliation.” He reiterated his readiness to support this process.-0-
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