A New Process Has Begun, Through Which All Our Captives Will Return: Nikol Pashinyan

The member of the Political Council of the Civil Contract party, Acting Prime Minister and Prime Minister candidate Nikol Pashinyan, during a campaign meeting with residents of Abovyan city in Kotayk province, mentioned: "98% of the Armenian public finally enjoyed the return of 15 Armenian captives on June 12." He added that his thoughts are already with the other captives and their families who have not yet returned.

"The return of our 15 captives is not an event, it is a process. And I can state that a new process has begun, through which all our brothers will return. But I also want to say that we will do this together," noted the Acting Prime Minister, addressing the attendees.

"We provided a map of a region; unfortunately, those minefields no longer separate us from them. They are behind them. We have given them the maps of their rear, but again, not for the sake of exchange," added Pashinyan, emphasizing: "When the US Deputy Secretary of State asked, 'Are you ready to take steps if they take steps?', I said, 'Yes, we are ready.' What step are you ready to take? I said that we would give part of the maps we have."

He assured that Armenia is ready to continue this process because there are Armenian captives in Azerbaijan, and the Armenian side possesses maps of the minefields. "Moreover, I say that in order to create a constructive atmosphere, in small numbers we provided some of those maps back in December," said Pashinyan, adding that the Armenian side halted the provision of maps when Azerbaijan stopped the return process of Armenian captives. "But we are ready to give all the maps of the minefields that are located behind them. However, our public will not understand if we unilaterally return them while having captives there," emphasized the Acting Prime Minister, adding that Azerbaijan's first sign of constructiveness was visible when they returned the lost Armenian soldier.

After the rally, a march took place.