Releasing Prisoners Will Be a Crucial Step for Peace Agreement, Says Pope Francis

Pope Francis has raised the alarm on the necessity of releasing prisoners of war, according to a statement from the Armenian Embassy to the Holy See.

During an annual meeting today with foreign diplomatic representatives accredited to the Holy See, which was also attended by the Armenian Ambassador, Francis addressed ongoing conflicts in various regions.

“In particular, I am thinking about the situation prevailing in the South Caucasus. I call on the parties to respect the ceasefire and reaffirm that the release of prisoners of war and detained civilians will be a crucial step towards a much-desired peace agreement,” said Francis.

It should be noted that Baku currently confirms the captivity of 33 individuals. However, official Yerevan assures that their number is higher. According to human rights defenders, 80 individuals are in Azerbaijani captivity.