ArmInfo. Anitta Hipper, Lead Spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, European Union (EU), posted the following message on her X account:
"We welcome today's release and transfer of 4 Armenians held by Azerbaijan. It is a great step forward in the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process. The EU will continue to support further positive steps between the two countries," Ms Hipper wrote.
On January 14, 2026, Azerbaijan released four illegally held Armenian prisoners in exchange for two Syrian mercenaries fighting on the Azerbaijani side in the 2020 war waged by the Azerbaijani-Turkish alliance against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.
Vagif Khachatryan had been held since 2023, after being abducted by Azerbaijani forces during a medical evacuation from Nagorno-Karabakh as part of an ICRC mission. Vigen Euljekjian, a Lebanese citizen, had been held by Azerbaijan since 2020, having been captured after the 2020 ceasefire while transiting the Lachin Corridor. Gevorg Sujyan and Davit Davtyan were captured by Azerbaijani forces the day after the signing of the ceasefire agreement ending the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War. Both were civilians and founders of a charitable NGO. In exchange, Armenia released two Syrian mercenaries, Mukhrab Muhammad al-Shkheri and Yousef Alabed al-Hajin, who were captured by Armenian forces in November 2020. Both confessed to serving as mercenaries during their trial and were sentenced to life imprisonment by an Armenian court in 2021 for crimes committed against Artsakh civilians. At the time, the mercenaries testified that they were ordered to spare no life and were given clear instructions and material rewards for the beheading of Armenian prisoners.
At least nineteen Armenian prisoners of war remain illegally detained in Azerbaijan, where they continue to be subjected to torture and abuse. These include eight former Nagorno-Karabakh officials: former State Minister (2022-2023) Ruben Vardanyan; Former President (2020-2023) Arayik Harutyunyan; former President (2007-2020) Bako Sahakyan; former President (1997-2007) Arkady Ghukasyan; Speaker of the National Assembly Davit Ishkhanyan; former Foreign Minister Davit Babayan; former Defense Minister Levon Mnatsakanyan and former Deputy Defense Minister Davit Manukyan.
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