Putin's Hard Call to Aliyev: Igitian on the Issue of Prisoners of War

"Russia must play a greater role in the return of prisoners of war," said Hovhannes Igitian, a member of the Armenian National Assembly’s ‘My Step’ faction and deputy chairman of the Permanent Committee on Foreign Relations. The MP insists that with its capabilities, the presence of peacekeeping forces in Artsakh, and diplomatic staff in Baku, Russia could take a firmer stance.

“Russia's signature under the statement is not merely a signature but also an obligation,” Igitian emphasized.

According to Igitian, Azerbaijan is attempting to leverage the discontent regarding prisoners of war in Armenia to influence the country’s internal political situation. In response to A1+'s observation that there are opinions suggesting that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan should have refrained from signing the January 11 agreement on unblocking roads until the issue of prisoners of war was resolved, Igitian remarked that he does not know to what extent one point can be tied to another. However, he stated that the return of prisoners of war is not only Armenia's but also Russia's obligation.

“Any issue mentioned in the statement can only be realized in a calmer environment, and the issue of prisoners of war is the most painful matter. There can be no trust towards Azerbaijan until the issue is resolved. Any economic cooperation implies trust, and how can there be trust if Azerbaijan does not resolve such a fundamental issue?” he added. Igitian believes that Vladimir Putin’s hard and categorical call to Aliyev is necessary since ultimately, the issue of prisoners of war is included in the statement. “If Russia's strength is not sufficiently recognized, we must assist it in this matter with international support,” he stated.

Igitian considers it crucial for unified messages to emerge from Armenia concerning the issue of prisoners of war. “If unified messages come from Armenia, it will be more impactful, which is not currently happening,” he concluded.