Ishkhan Saghatelian Discussed with Yannis Maniatis the Release of Armenians Held in Baku

ArmInfo. Ishkhan Saghatelyan, a member of the Armenian parliament from the opposition “Armenia” faction and a member of the Supreme Council of the ARF “Dashnaktsutyun,” held a meeting with Yannis Maniatis, Deputy Chair of the Social Democratic political group of the European Parliament.

“Together with Yannis Maniatis, Deputy Chair of the Social Democratic political group of the European Parliament and a close friend of the Armenian people, we discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including further work to deepen the more than decade-long high-level relations between the Social Democratic political group of the European Parliament and the ARF

“Given Maniatis’s party affiliation and the fact that he heads the Greek PASOK parliamentary group in the European Parliament, we also exchanged views on the further development of relations between the ARF ‘Dashnaktsutyun’ and PASOK,” Saghatelyan said on his Facebook page.

According to him, during the meeting, the ARFD’s approaches to current domestic political developments and external challenges facing the Republic of Armenia were presented. He added that particular attention was paid to the issues of releasing Armenian prisoners held in Baku, protecting Artsakh’s cultural heritage, and protecting the fundamental rights of the Armenians of Artsakh in general, including the right to return.

“I expressed my gratitude to the European Parliament, the Social Democratic political group, and Maniatis personally for their position on these issues,” Saghatelyan added.

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 they are holding 19 Armenians.  Among those held in Azerbaijani captivity are 8 former and current representatives of Artsakh’s military and political leadership. They are former Artsakh presidents Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, and Arayik Harutyunyan; former Foreign Minister Davit Babayan; as well as Parliament Speaker Davit Ishkhanyan, former commander of the Artsakh Defense Army, General Levon Mnatsakanyan, General Davit Manukyan, and former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan.

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