In Addition to 228 Armenian Prisoners, There Are Alleged Cases of Captivity Amounting to Several Dozens: Siranush Sahakyan

In addition to 228 Armenian prisoners, there are alleged cases of captivity that amount to several dozens. This was stated in an interview with NEWS.am by Siranush Sahakyan, a lawyer representing the interests of Armenian prisoners at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Sahakyan mentioned that the inquiry concerning the 228 Armenian prisoners submitted to the ECHR is a summary of the cases presented by both the legal team and the office of the authorized representative. "These are not cases officially confirmed by Azerbaijan, but rather instances where the Armenian side has established evidence of captivity before the European Court," she stated.

She noted that there are other alleged prisoners from the Armenian side in Azerbaijan, and investigations are still ongoing in these matters. "If sufficient evidence is gathered, these cases will also be presented to the ECHR. The increase in the number of prisoners is not due to new cases of captivity, but rather the revelation of previously captured cases. We currently have a larger number of disclosed cases of captivity. It is confidently acknowledged that the captives relate to prior periods; since the events of December 13-15, I am not aware of any new cases of Armenian captivity," Sahakyan explained.

When asked if the return of the prisoners is anticipated, Sahakyan responded positively: "The process is continuous; there are positive forecasts. However, we cannot specify exact deadlines or concrete numbers."

Siranush Sahakyan emphasized that legal processes are crucial and hold significance in this context. "We know that the issue has not been solved directly through Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations. Nonetheless, the process has not failed; we have partners here represented by the Russian Federation," she stated.

According to Sahakyan, several international organizations are also interested in the issue of prisoner returns, which cannot fail to have a positive impact. "Regarding the political format, there is also a degree of self-incrimination; perhaps they will explain how the issue became politicized, turned into bargaining subjects in negotiations, and could not be resolved immediately based on humanitarian considerations. We continue to emphasize the importance of political processes," she noted.

Commenting on the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly's discussion of Navalny's imprisonment instead of the issue of prisoners of war, lawyer Sahakyan remarked, "The Council of Europe is a political body. The work of delegations is significant; the more proactive they are in bringing agenda issues forward, and how well they interact with the delegations of partner countries to garner support during votes, matters immensely. If these issues do not become agenda items, then certainly, we can observe shortcomings. The Council of Europe also has its own interests. If an agenda item emerges where the organization itself has interests, it becomes a leading player in discussing issues."