Armenian FM, ICRC president meet in Geneva, discuss trials of  Armenians in Baku 

ArmInfo. On February 24, within the framework of the working visit to Geneva, Foreign Minister of Armenian Ararat Mirzoyan had a meeting with Mirjana Spoljaric  Egger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The issues of cooperation between Armenia and the ICRC were touched  upon.

Ararat Mirzoyan and Mirjana Spoljaric Egger discussed humanitarian  issues. Minister Mirzoyan raised the issue of the release of Armenian  prisoners of war and civilians illegally detained in Azerbaijan, the  ongoing sham trials, expressing concern over the health condition of  mentioned individuals and the possible pressure exerted on them.

Among other agenda items, the discussion touched upon the undertaken  and necessary  additional efforts towards clarifying the fate of  missing persons. Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized Armenia's readiness and  steps taken to address the issue, taking into account the sensitivity  of the matter for the families of missing persons.

The Foreign Minister of Armenia noted that resolving humanitarian  issues could be a significant factor in achieving a comprehensive  settlement and establishing lasting peace.

During the meeting, Minister Mirzoyan presented the process of  normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including  work on the text of the peace treaty, emphasizing the importance of  both sides demonstrating political will for its conclusion.

International and regional developments were also touched upon.

On January 17, under the chairmanship of Judge Zeynal Agayev, the  Baku Military Court began considering the "indictment" against the  former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh. Among the accused are three  former presidents of Nagorno-Karabakh: Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako  Sahakyan and Arayik Harutyunyan. Also appearing before the court will  be former Foreign Minister David Babayan, Speaker of the Parliament  David Ishkhanyan, former Commander of the Defense Army General Levon  Mnatsakanyan, General David Manukyan and former State Minister Ruben  Vardanyan.

On January 16, Vardanyan made a statement in which he demanded that  he and his lawyer be given the opportunity to fully prepare for their  defense; that all violations and falsifications be eliminated; that  the trial of him and all the other accused be made public. "I insist  on a maximally open trial with the participation of international  journalists and representatives of humanitarian organizations. I am  convinced that only a real court, and not a trial, will help take a  step forward on the difficult path of building new relations between  our peoples," he emphasized. 

He demanded that his case be combined with the cases of other  defendants. "More than 400 volumes of my case out of 422 are episodes  of a common case. Separating my case into a separate proceeding is an  artificial and unfounded decision," Vardanyan added. After a number  of Vardanyan's petitions were rejected during the trial, he went on a  hunger strike.