Release of Artsakh Military and State Figures is a Priority for All: Arman Tatoyan

Former Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan, has stated:

“The abduction and illegal imprisonment of Artsakh leaders, military, and state officials by the Azerbaijani authorities: 1) legitimizes their political false narratives by presenting false accusations (terrorism and terrorism financing, money laundering, illegal armed groups, murders, etc.); 2) legitimizes their genocidal policies, hatred, and animosity, creating 'legitimate' grounds for advancing them; 3) cleanses themselves of the crimes committed—murders, torture, abductions, the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, etc.; 4) creates grounds for military aggression and new violations against Armenia (for example, through testimonies obtained by torture and fabricated criminal cases, etc.); 5) attempts to break the spirit of the Armenian people, injures national dignity, maintains tension within Armenian society, and causes psychological suffering to people.

The release of all of them is a priority for all of us, regardless of individual attitudes towards any of them, including former Artsakh presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arayik Harutyunyan, the parliament leader Davit Ishkhanyan, former state minister Ruben Vardanyan, former foreign minister Davit Babayan, senior military officials Levon Mnatsakanyan and Davit Manukyan, various captured Armenian soldiers, and civilians of different times.”