If You Can Bring the Captives Home in 3 Days, Do So Within a Week, Then Speak: Relatives of Captured Shiraz Citizens Address Arthur Vanetsyan

Relatives of captured Shiraz citizens urge all parties not to politicize the issue of the captives. This statement was made during a press conference held on February 28 at the Shirak regional administration, where relatives of 54 Shiraz boys captured in Khzraberd expressed their concerns.

“Currently, both political and non-political forces are engaging in discussions about the liberation of our boys from captivity. We urge both political and non-political forces to keep their opinions and actions regarding our boys separate. If there are individuals who can contribute to the return of our boys, we request that they take action before speaking. From day one, we have seen those who are willing to stand by us and take steps for our cause, but we also know those who touch upon the issue of our boys for their own purposes; they should refrain from including the issue of captives and missing persons in their statements and not obstruct other efforts that are being made and need to be undertaken,” the relatives emphasized, clarifying that they do not support any political force nor stand with any of them.

The relatives of the captives stressed that if there are forces able to bring the captives back to Armenia, they should do so before making claims. “If those powers and individuals have the ability to assist in their return, we urge you not to exploit the situation; the person who is able will take action and prove it,” they stated.

During the press conference, the relatives singled out a statement made by Arthur Vanetsyan. “Exploitation has occurred on the part of Arthur Vanetsyan. We urge him that if he has that opportunity, he should act and then speak. If you can bring the captives home in 3 days, do so even within a week, rather than turning children into a bargaining chip for a seat,” the relatives emphasized, highlighting the importance of the process surrounding the return of the captives.

“We won’t disclose any specifics, but we know well who is involved in this process and what steps are being taken. Currently, 70 percent of the progress made prior to this regarding the boys’ return has been reset to zero. If the person who has the ability to bring the captives home is not cooperating with the appropriate authorities authorized to mediate their return, we believe the intention is different, and we should not judge the outcome; there are appropriate bodies for that. This is not just about the 62 boys from the Shirak region, eight of whom have returned, but about all,” they stated, demanding a meeting with the Presidents of Armenia and Artsakh in Gyumri. “Let them come to Gyumri and not turn our boys into political currency. We don’t need politicization; we need clear actions,” the relatives added.