Member of the ARFD Supreme Body: The issue of releasing Armenian prisoners of war from Baku must be a priority on Armenia’s state agenda

ArmInfo.  The issue of releasing the Armenian prisoners of war held in Baku should be one of the priorities on the state agenda of the Republic of Armenia. Member of the Supreme Body of the Armenian ARF "Dashnaktsutyun" (ARFD), former parliament member Garnik Danielyan, wrote this on his Facebook page, reacting to another appeal by Artsakh Parliament Speaker David Ishkhanian, who has been held captive in Azerbaijan since September 2023, to the Armenian authorities.

"State officials, the 19 Armenians held in Azerbaijan are citizens of the Republic of Armenia. Remember that this is not a matter of our personal honor. It is a matter of the honor of all of us," Danielyan quoted an excerpt from the appeal by the NKR Parliament speaker.

"These words of David Ishkhanian are being heard from an Azerbaijani prison. It is impossible to read the letters of the military-political leadership of Artsakh, which is being held hostage, without emotion, pain and anger. People who are currently in Azerbaijani prisons only because they defended their homeland, the rights and dignity of their people," the member of the ARFD Supreme Body wrote in this connection.

The politician called the behavior of the Armenian authorities the most painful aspect of this situation, noting that it often creates the impression that these people no longer exist.  "They have repeatedly demonstrated their true attitude toward the prisoners: "They will forgive us for 1-2 extra months of captivity" (Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan). "I believe that these prisoners no longer exist; for me, they do not exist" (Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan). But they do exist. They have names, families, relatives and rights. And most importantly, they are citizens of the Republic of Armenia," Danielyan stressed.

As the former parliament member noted, despite the fabricated charges, trials, and physical and psychological violence, they continue to teach all Armenians lessons in dignity. "Therefore, the issue of their release should be one of the priorities on the state agenda of the Republic of Armenia. Indifference and silence may lead to catastrophic consequences. We must speak about them every day, demand their release and use all possible political and diplomatic tools to bring our compatriots back. Freedom for the Armenian prisoners and their return to their homeland," the member of the ARFD Supreme Body concluded.

It should be noted that the exact number of Armenian prisoners of war and hostages held in Azerbaijani prisons remains unknown. Experts estimate that there are several hundred of them. Today, the Azerbaijani authorities confirm that 19 Armenians are in their custody.  Those held captive in Azerbaijan include 8 former and current representatives of the military-political leadership of Artsakh. They are former Artsakh presidents Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan and Arayik Harutyunyan, former Foreign Minister David Babayan, as well as Parliament Speaker David Ishkhanian, former commander of the Artsakh Defense Army, General Levon Mnatsakanyan, General David Manukyan and former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan.

In February, the Baku puppet court, based on fabricated charges, sentenced Arayik Harutyunyan, David Babayan, David Ishkhanian, David Manukyan and Levon Mnatsakanyan to life imprisonment, and Bako Sahakyan, Arkady Ghukasyan and Ruben Vardanyan to 20 years in prison.  The so-called court sentenced the other Artsakh Armenians to up to 15 years in prison.

Let us add that on September 9, Artsakh Parliament Speaker David Ishkhanian sent another appeal from a Baku prison, in which he touched upon the activities of the ombudsmen of Armenia and Azerbaijan and called on the Armenian authorities to show at least a little dignity.