Aliyev Is Lying: Official Response from Stepanakert on Prisoners

The Republic of Artsakh cannot be a part of Azerbaijan. This was stated by Artak Beglaryan, head of the Office of the President of the Republic of Artsakh, on his Twitter microblog, responding to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's remark during a press conference on February 26 that the status of Artsakh should be removed from the political agenda.

"The Republic of Artsakh cannot be part of Azerbaijan, there can be no integration, and our people cannot live in our own country as 'citizens of Azerbaijan.' Our right to self-determination must be fully recognized on an international level," Beglaryan wrote.

The head of the presidential office also countered Aliyev's claims regarding prisoners, arguing that only terrorists remain in Azerbaijan, and that official Baku has returned all prisoners and the bodies of the deceased. "Aliyev is lying, as Azerbaijan holds not only those captured in the post-war period, but also civilians (including women and elderly people) captured during the wartime and numerous military prisoners, with undeniable evidence," Beglaryan stated. Regarding the 62 individuals captured in Khzraberd after the war, he noted that they were not involved in any fighting.

According to the official, Azerbaijan has tortured and killed some prisoners in custody, likely referring to cases presented by Aliyev, such as that of Misha Melkumyan. "The level of anti-Armenian sentiment in Aliyev's rhetoric is ongoing, which is not a sign of peaceful intentions. Xenophobia against Armenians has deep, widespread, and aggressive manifestations in Azerbaijani society, which are clearly encouraged by the authorities and the president himself," Beglaryan emphasized.

"If Aliyev claims that no evidence has been found of Azerbaijan's involvement of mercenaries, then what do you say about the detained mercenaries, their testimonies, and the declarations made at the highest levels by Russia, France, the USA, Iran, and other countries? He seems to be telling the world: 'We did it, but you couldn’t prove it,'" he concluded.

Addressing Aliyev's threats regarding the visa regime for entering Artsakh, the head of the presidential office stated: "Azerbaijan cannot have any role in the procedures for the entry of foreigners into the Republic of Artsakh. This is our exclusive right and function, which is technically implemented in cooperation with the Russian peacekeeping forces stationed in Artsakh. Any intervention is unacceptable."