Friday, October 23 2026 12:44
Marianna Mkrtchyan

The mayor of Nice demanded the release of all Armenians held in Azerbaijan.

The mayor of Nice demanded the release of all Armenians held in Azerbaijan.

ArmInfo. The mayor of the French city of Nice, Eric Ciotti, demanded the release of all Armenians held in Azerbaijani prisons.

"Twenty Armenians, convicted on fictitious sentences, are still being held in Baku prisons. The Azerbaijani regime seeks to erase them from our memory. Today, together with the Armenian community of Nice, we demand their immediate and unconditional release," the mayor of Nice wrote on his Facebook page.

He also reported that ribbons in Armenian colors were tied to the portraits of 20 Armenian prisoners held in Baku at the gates of Nice City Hall.

"I promised to propose awarding the 20 Armenian prisoners of Artsakh the title of honorary citizens of the city of Nice. This is a powerful gesture demonstrating our solidarity with these people unjustly detained in Baku. "Nice will remain mobilized until their release," added Eric Ciotti.

It should be noted that the exact number of Armenian prisoners of war and hostages held in Azerbaijani prisons is still unknown. Experts estimate there are several hundred. Today, Azerbaijani authorities confirm the presence of 19 Armenians in their custody. Among those held in Azerbaijani captivity are eight former and current representatives of the military-political leadership of Artsakh. These are former presidents of Artsakh; Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, 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 David 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 trumped-up charges, and Bako Sahakyan, Arkady Ghukasyan, and Ruben Vardanyan to 20 years in prison. The so-called court sentenced the remaining Artsakh residents to up to 15 years in prison.

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