Azerbaijan Must Release Armenian Prisoners, "They Are Being Held Illegally": Call from 26 Italian Parliamentarians

Twenty-six Italian parliamentarians have signed a call to the Draghi government to exert pressure on Azerbaijan for the release of prisoners of war and Armenian civilians held in the country. According to Armenpress, this information was reported by the Askannews agency.

“A year after the signing of the trilateral statement on November 9, the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and along the borders of Armenia and Azerbaijan remains tense due to incursions of Azerbaijani troops into the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia and the failure to observe the ceasefire,” the parliamentarians explain in their statement, emphasizing that numerous Armenian prisoners of war are being held illegally in Azerbaijani prisons, and many reputable sources indicate that Armenian Christian historical and cultural heritage is at risk in areas under Azerbaijani control.

According to the Italian parliamentarians, in addition to this, Azerbaijan, with the open support of Turkey, threatens to use force to create a “corridor” that connects the two countries through the internationally recognized sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia. “All of this is despite the fact that the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020, which ended the war, envisages the unblocking of transport and communication networks in the region. Moreover, according to information received, the International Court of Justice in The Hague (International Court of Justice - ICJ) has ruled that Azerbaijan must guarantee the rights of prisoners of war, prevent incitement of racial hatred against the Armenian population, and condemn vandalism against Armenian historical and cultural heritage,” the document states.

The 26 Italian parliamentarians expect that the government will set the release of prisoners of war and civilians taken as a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh war and the subsequent period as a prerequisite in EU-Azerbaijan relations within the framework of the Eastern Partnership, as well as the abandonment of provocative and militaristic rhetoric in favor of sincere involvement in peace negotiations based on a constructive foundation to resolve outstanding issues for the benefit of security and prosperity throughout the entire Caucasus region.