Mirzoyan Discusses Efforts Undertaken for the Return of Prisoners

The issue of the return of Armenian prisoners unlawfully held in Azerbaijan was raised last year on various international platforms, where statements calling for the return of the prisoners were made by different international organizations and bodies. The efforts carried out were presented by Armenia's Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan during a joint meeting of the permanent committees of the National Assembly discussing the annual report on the execution of the 2021 state budget.

“Efforts have continued regarding the release of Armenian servicemen and civilians unlawfully held in Azerbaijan, presenting the issue to international high-ranking officials, heads of states, advisors, organizations engaged in the protection of human rights, and experts, applying the relevant procedures of the UN, the Council of Europe, and the OSCE. The issue of the return of prisoners has been raised during meetings held within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group co-presidency and has been reflected in the statements of the co-chairs, including in the declaration circulated on December 7 on behalf of the co-chairing countries,” said Mirzoyan.

Documents related to the issue of prisoners have been distributed in international organizations in New York, Geneva, Strasbourg, Vienna, and Brussels. The Foreign Minister assures that Armenia's permanent representatives have consistently raised the issue and are continuing to do so in all formats of meetings, assemblies, and events.

As a result, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, the Chair of the UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances, and special rapporteurs on arbitrary summary executions have issued a statement titled “Nagorno-Karabakh: All prisoners must be released.”

According to the Minister, within the EU framework, the issue of the necessity of returning Armenian prisoners has been raised by the President of the European Commission, the spokesperson of the EU’s External Action Service, and by more than 100 members of the European Parliament. During the January session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the issue of returning prisoners was included in a resolution regarding the Assembly's monitoring processes, calling for the immediate exchange of prisoners and remains.

The PACE Monitoring Committee has published a statement urging Azerbaijan to return the Armenian servicemen unlawfully held based on the assertions of the European Court of Human Rights regarding them. Mirzoyan also recalled that Human Rights Watch published a report following its visit to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, featuring explicit assertions regarding the torture of Armenian prisoners, which was classified as a war crime. The issue of the return of Armenian prisoners has also been addressed by the human rights organization Freedom House. On May 20, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for the immediate release and return of Armenian prisoners, with 607 members voting in favor.