Legal expert calls for coordinated state and civil society efforts to return Armenians held in Baku
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International law specialist Siranush Sahakyan has stressed the importance of cooperation between civil society institutions and state authorities in securing the return of Armenian prisoners illegally held in Baku.
Speaking at a press conference on January 17, Sahakyan underlined the irreplaceable role of civil society in informing international partners about the situation, existing problems, and the urgency of resolving the issue.
At the same time, she noted that the return of captives has a clear political element.
“Behind every return are negotiations and agreements. In my opinion, this process is possible exclusively with the involvement of public authorities. Without their participation and without a negotiation process, the issue will be lead to a deadlock,” Sahakyan said, emphasizing the need for a cooperative approach.
According to her, public authorities must take a firm stance to ensure the issue is resolved through negotiations as soon as possible, while civil society institutions should help create a favorable environment by drawing international attention and exerting additional pressure on the Azerbaijani authorities.
According to her, cooperation is the best model, thanks to which it is possible to ensure the return of the remaining Armenian prisoners held in Baku through joint efforts.