Issue of Armenian prisoners not priority for Armenian authorities -  opposition MP

ArmInfo.Armenian society had certain expectations regarding Armenian prisoners of war  following US Vice President J.D. Vance's visit to Baku, but the Azerbaijani president's subsequent statements raised even more questions. This was stated by Tigran Abrahamyan, Secretary of the "I  Have the Honor" opposition faction in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, at a briefing on February 16.

According to the MP, Aliyev noted in his statement that the issue of  Armenian prisoners of war was indeed raised during Vance's visit, to  which the Azerbaijani side presented its position and that was it.  "This could indicate two things: either the issue was not the subject  of serious discussion, and the US Vice President merely formally  raised the issue, keeping in mind Yerevan's expectations, or there  was an agreement to ignore the issue. At the very least, Aliyev's  statements indicate that the issue, in fact, was not a priority for  discussion," the MP noted. He added that all of this is evidence that  the issue is not a priority for the Armenian authorities, nor is it  important in the process of normalizing relations between Yerevan and  Baku. "The development of events shows that Azerbaijan is constantly  adding new issues to its agenda and receiving the requested  solutions. Moreover, I would like to remind you that, despite the  positive forecasts for Armenian-Azerbaijani 'normalization,' not only  the issue of Armenian prisoners of war and hostages remains  unresolved, but also the ongoing occupation of part of Armenia's  sovereign territory, which is also not a priority for the Armenian  authorities. According to the authorities, the issue of these  territories should be resolved through the process of border  delimitation and demarcation, and this process could be lengthy," the  opposition leader said, pointing to Baku's actions to strengthen the  occupied territories.

As a reminder, during Vance's regional visit to Yerevan and Baku, the  issue of Armenian prisoners of war held in Azerbaijani prisons was  raised. It should be noted that 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. 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.