Over 120 MEPs Demand Return of All Armenian Detainees from Azerbaijan

More than 120 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have addressed a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel, calling for the return of all Armenian prisoners of war from Azerbaijan to Armenia. The initiative was led by MEPs, including the main rapporteur on Armenia, Andrey Kovachev, along with François-Xavier Bellamy and Lukas Mandl.

The MEPs reminded in their letter that Armenia has released all detained prisoners of war, adhering to the spirit of the trilateral statement signed in November 2020. “Azerbaijan not only continues to hold Armenian prisoners of war, but there are also suspicions that they have captured new individuals, including civilians, after the official cessation of hostilities. It is difficult to accurately identify the number of prisoners of war and detainees, as a significant number of individuals are missing, and the Azerbaijani side is not cooperating properly. However, we are talking about 72 individuals whose capture is acknowledged by Azerbaijan, as well as 112 individuals regarding whom Azerbaijan does not provide any information and 61 individuals whose capture, although denied by Azerbaijan, has evidence to the contrary,” the MEPs noted.

They specifically highlighted that this not only constitutes a violation of international law but also contradicts Azerbaijan's claims about resolving relationships and reconciliation.

The parliamentarians declared that Armenians held by the Azerbaijani side should be released unconditionally. They also addressed the documented cases of torture and abuse against military personnel and civilians in captivity, with undeniable evidence provided by the publications of such videos by Azerbaijani sources on the internet.

“The friendly country of Europe, Armenia, has already paid a very high price in this conflict and continues to suffer under these inhumane conditions. Many Armenian families are still waiting to find out whether their children died during the war or were taken captive, and therefore their lives are at risk. The European Union can no longer leave Armenia alone in this intolerable situation; we must act to ensure that violence does not once again prevail over law. We take pride in the principles that unite us, and these values should compel us to use our weight and all leverage to demand respect for international law from Azerbaijan. If Europe wishes to fulfill its commitments, it must ensure that violations of international law do not become a tragic precedent in its neighborhood. Otherwise, silence and inaction will turn into historical responsibility. As Members of the European Parliament, we urge you to act and demand the return of all Armenian prisoners of war to their homeland,” the letter concludes.