Release of POWs is mainly discussed in political agenda – Kirakosyan

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS. The issue of the release of Armenians POWs held in Azerbaijan is mostly discussed in the political agenda but legal demands have also been made in international courts, a senior official has said.

Yeghishe Kirakosyan, Armenia’s Representative for International Legal Matters, said at a press conference that Armenia has raised the issue of POWs both in the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights, however these courts found the matter to be beyond their jurisdiction.

“Regrettably, the issue of the return of the captives is a matter mostly discussed in the political agenda, but in the legal arena we had presented a demand in this regard, both in the International Court of Justice and the European court. Unfortunately, the international courts found that this issue is beyond their direct jurisdiction,” Kirakosyan said.

Legal processes are mainly directed at ensuring legal guarantees for the POWs, whereas the matter of their release is mainly resolved in the political arena, he said.