Mirzoyan Reports Number of Armenian Prisoners Held in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is holding 38 individuals as prisoners, among which 3 are civilians. This was announced today, March 21, during the meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Foreign Relations by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan while presenting a report approved by the Government of Armenia on February 28, 2022, regarding the implementation process and results of the Government’s Program for 2021-2026.

“Armenian military personnel and civilians continue to be held unlawfully in Azerbaijan. Armenia continues to raise the issue of the immediate return of Armenian prisoners of war, hostages, and other detained individuals held in Azerbaijan in various international formats. As of now, Azerbaijan is keeping 38 individuals under different statuses, including prisoners of war and hostages. Of these 38, 3 are civilians. Notably, 2 out of the 38 were captured prior to the escalation that occurred on November 16,” said Mirzoyan.

The issue was included in the agenda of the April session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on April 19, 2021, and continues to remain effective alongside the decision of the European Court of Human Rights regarding interim measures applied in Azerbaijan. On May 20, 2021, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for the immediate release and return of Armenian prisoners with 607 votes in favor. Mirzoyan recalled the decisions of the International Court of Justice from December 7, 2021. The court obligated Azerbaijan to prevent the incitement and promotion of racial hatred and discrimination targeting individuals of Armenian ethnicity and to take necessary measures to prevent and penalize acts of vandalism and desecration against Armenian cultural heritage.

The Minister emphasized that the approach raised by Azerbaijan's Minister of Culture regarding the need to create a commission for the “restoration of Azerbaijani cultural monuments” makes it particularly urgent for a UNESCO mission to be dispatched to Nagorno-Karabakh. The Armenian side is currently negotiating in this direction.