Release of 15 Armenian prisoners would represent another major step  towards lasting peace in the South Caucasus - MEPs

ArmInfo.  Below is a joint statement by a number of MEPs on the sentencing of Armenian detainees by Azerbaijan

"Joint statement by

 MEP Mounir Satouri, Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights,

 MEP Nils Usakovs, Chair of the Delegation for relations with the  South Caucasus,

 MEP Miriam Lexmann, Committee on Foreign Affairs' Standing  Rapporteur on Armenia,

 MEP Dan Barna, Committee on Foreign Affairs' Standing Rapporteur on  Azerbaijan,

on the sentencing of Armenian detainees by Azerbaijan

Strasbourg, 10 February 2026 - "On Thursday 5 February, the Baku  Military Court handed down long prison sentences to 15 Armenian  defendants, out of the 19 Armenian detainees still held in Azerbaijan  and arrested in the context of the former Nagorno- Karabakh conflict.  We deeply regret this ruling, which includes five life imprisonment  sentences.

Last year, the Azerbaijani leadership took significant steps towards  peace and reconciliation with Armenia, signing the Washington  Declaration, initialling the text of the peace agreement, and  allowing - for the first time in decades - the transit of cargo from  its territory into Armenia. In January 2026, it released four  Armenians serving prison sentences in Azerbaijan after being arrested  in 2020 and 2023.

Only last week, the President of Azerbaijan, together with the Prime  Minister of Armenia, were awarded the 2026 Zayed Award for Human  Fraternity 'in recognition of their consistent efforts to promote  peace'. In this spirit, we appeal on the Azerbaijani authorities to  build further on the current positive momentum and release all  Armenian detainees in Azerbaijan's custody. Their release would  represent a significant goodwill gesture and another major step  towards lasting peace in the South Caucasus."

The exact number of Armenian prisoners of war and hostages held in  Azerbaijani prisons remains unknown. Experts estimate the number to  be several hundred. Currently, Azerbaijani authorities confirm the  presence of 19 Armenians in their custody. Among those held in  Azerbaijani captivity are eight former and current members of the  military- political leadership of Artsakh. These include former  Artsakh presidents Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, and Arayik  Harutyunyan; former Foreign Minister David Babayan; as well as  Parliament Speaker David Ishkhanyan; former Commander of the Artsakh  Defense Army General Levon Mnatsakanyan; General David Manukyan; and  former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan. "

Today, the Baku puppet court sentenced Arayik Harutyunyan, David  Babayan, David Ishkhanyan, David Manukyan, and Levon Mnatsakanyan to  life imprisonment on trumped-up charges, and Bako Sahakyan and Arkady  Ghukasyan to 20 years in prison.  The so-called court sentenced the  remaining Artsakh residents to up to 15 years in prison.  The verdict  has not yet been announced for philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan, whose  case has been separated into separate proceedings.