Armenian lawmaker vows continued efforts to secure release of remaining captives in Azerbaijan
3 minute read
An Armenian lawmaker representing the ruling Civil Contract party reaffirmed on Monday that the authorities continue to work toward securing the release of the remaining Armenians held unlawfully in Azerbaijan.
MP Artur Hovhannisyan, Secretary of the Civil Contract faction in parliament, told reporters that this work is part of their daily efforts.
He was asked to comment on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s recent remarks that Azerbaijan does not plan to release the Armenians who were recently convicted by a military court in Baku.
"Work on the return of our compatriots is part of our daily efforts. You can also see the results, of course—not in the timeframe we would like, nor in the way we would prefer. But in any case, alongside the speech you mentioned, we are achieving successes. We will do everything to ensure that our compatriots return to Armenia," said Hovhannisyan.
Four Armenians were released by Azerbaijan earlier in January, bringing the number of remaining captives to 19.
Earlier in February, an Azerbaijani military court sentenced several former top political and military leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh to life imprisonment on war crime–related charges widely seen as fabricated.
Former Nagorno-Karabakh President Arayik Harutyunyan, former Defense Army commander Levon Mnatsakanyan and his deputy Davit Manukyan, former Foreign Minister Davit Babayan, and former Speaker of Parliament Davit Ishkanyan were sentenced to life imprisonment.
Former Presidents Bako Sahakyan and Arkady Ghukasyan received 20-year prison sentences, as they are over the age of 65 and Azerbaijani law prohibits life imprisonment for individuals of that age.
They are all among the 19 Armenian captives.
The trial of another prominent former Karabakh politician, former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan—described by him as a “farce”—is proceeding separately.
Other captives received sentences ranging from 15 to 19 years.
After Azerbaijan’s takeover of Karabakh during its 2023 offensive, the Armenian population—over 100,000 people—fled to Armenia seeking refuge. The former politicians and others were detained during the exodus.