Corsican Assembly  demands immediate release of 19 Armenian political  prisoners held in Azerbaijan

ArmInfo. The Association for the Support of Artsakh (ASA) welcomes with deep gratitude the vote of the Assembly of Corsica on July 31 on a resolution demanding the immediate release of 19 Armenian political prisoners from Artsakh held in Azerbaijan and affirming the right of Artsakh Armenians to  return in safety, dignity, and unhindered in accordance with the  provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice,  as noted in  a statement issued by the ASA. 

The Association recalled the former presidents of Artsakh, Arayik  Harutyunyan, Bako Sahakyan, and Arkady Ghukasyan; Parliament Speaker  Davit Ishkhanyan; former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan; General  Levon Mnatsakanyan; Davit Manukyan; Davit Babayan; and 11 other  Armenians held in Baku.  The Assembly of Corsica has described the  trials against them as arbitrary.

"We will continue our work with the support of all political forces,  public organizations, and citizens who, like the Assembly of Corsica,  choose international law as their sole guideline, until the rights of  the people of Artsakh are fully restored," stated Hovhannes  Gevorgyan, representative of the Republic of Artsakh.

The vote comes nearly three years after the International Court of  Justice ordered Azerbaijan to ensure the safe, dignified, and  unimpeded return of the Armenians of Artsakh to their land. This  decision has still not been implemented, and the detention of  Armenian political prisoners continues in violation of international  human rights conventions. The Association expressed its gratitude to  the members of the Corsican Assembly and the Core In Fronte group,  which  initiated the motion.