Armenia`s authorities seeking to turn issue of Armenian prisoners in  Baku into domestic political one - ex- FM

ArmInfo.The Armenian authorities are trying to turn the issue of prisoners of war and hostages held in Azerbaijan into a domestic political issue to hide their inaction and strengthen their positions. This was stated by  former Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan.

"This problem is above narrow personal interests. The issue of  returning our guys to their homeland should be a priority. The  Armenian authorities have not done anything to this day. Little  activity in the recent period, a statement by the Armenian Foreign  Ministry or some hints by the Minister of Foreign Affairs on this  issue during a speech in Geneva are not enough," Oskanyan is sure.

He believes that these steps by the authorities are a response to  street protests by citizens in the recent period. The diplomat once  again emphasized that the Armenian authorities have not made any  efforts to return the Armenian captives from Baku. Oskanyan called  the fact that Armenia did not raise the issue of Armenian captives or  the right of Artsakh residents to return during the annual OSCE  meeting in Malta last December a missed opportunity.

"Imagine, the head of the Armenian Foreign Ministry is speaking at  the organization that created the Minsk Group for the settlement of  the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. 56 ministers are participating in the  event, and the Armenian side does not raise the question - did the  representatives of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries in Artsakh  really meet with criminals, terrorists, as Azerbaijan presents it,  during the long-term negotiation process?" the diplomat noted,  recalling that the co-chairs have repeatedly met with Bako Sahakyan,  who is being held in Baku, and with David Babayan and other  representatives of Artsakh.

"Bako Sahakyan in the Baku court, under pressure and torture,  declares - this is our right to fight for self- determination and all  the processes were legal. And it is in this plane that this issue  should be considered.  Bako Sahakyan and others in the Baku court are  freer and more independent than you with all your power under this  sun together with your diplomatic immunity. You are not independent  and cowardly, incapable of raising this issue in the appropriate  authorities. You are scared, because you know that everything that is  happening is the result of your mistakes and failures," Oskanyan  emphasized.

The diplomat once again emphasized that the key to the return of the  Armenian boys to their homeland is in the hands of Armenian Prime  Minister Nikol Pashinyan and noted the imperative of ending contacts  with Azerbaijan until they are all released. According to him,  Azerbaijan is using Armenian captives for political bargaining, to  put pressure on the Armenian authorities. In conclusion, he called  for continuing the struggle for the release of Armenian captives from  Baku.

The current and former military-political leadership of Artsakh was  taken hostage after the Azerbaijani aggression against the NKR on  September 19-20, 2023. For the second year in a row, in the face of  inaction by the international community, dozens of Armenian citizens  are illegally detained in Azerbaijan, subjected to cruel and  degrading treatment, torture.