OSCE Co-Chairs Once Again Call for the Return of All Prisoners

The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Igor Popov (Russia), Stefan Visconti (France), and Andrew Schofer (USA), have once again called for the return of all held individuals, detainees, and for the operational exchange of remains.

According to a statement released by the Co-Chairs, they welcome the recent release of Armenian nationals Robert Vardanian, Samvel Shukhyan, and Seyran Tamrazian, who were detained by Azerbaijan. They urged both parties to fully and quickly complete the exchange process for all prisoners, detainees, and remains, and to uphold their obligations to ensure humane treatment of those detained.

Referring to their statement from April 13, the Co-Chairs called on the parties to exchange all information necessary for effective demining in conflict-affected areas and to lift restrictions on access to Nagorno-Karabakh, including for representatives of international humanitarian organizations.

The Co-Chairs urged the parties to take concrete steps to create an atmosphere of mutual trust conducive to establishing sustainable peace, addressing remaining contentious issues outlined in their April 13 statement.

"This includes the resumption of high-level political dialogue under the auspices of the Co-Chairs at the earliest opportunity," the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs concluded.