Azerbaijan Unwilling to Exchange Two Soldiers for Armenian Prisoners: Siranush Sahakyan

Azerbaijan is not willing to exchange two Azerbaijanis sentenced in Armenia for Armenian prisoners based on the principle of everyone for everyone. This statement was made by Siranush Sahakyan, a human rights defender representing Armenian prisoners of war at the European Court of Human Rights, during a press conference.

Earlier, Vahan Kostanyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, announced that Yerevan is utilizing all its tools to ensure the return of Armenians unlawfully held in Azerbaijan, including former officials, as soon as possible. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also stated during a live Q&A session that Yerevan is ready to exchange Azerbaijani prisoners sentenced in Armenia for Armenian captives.

“This approach is unacceptable for Azerbaijan. If Azerbaijan wanted to replace two Azerbaijani soldiers for 55 people or at least 10 prisoners of war, I assure you that the deal would have been made,” Sahakyan stated. According to her, Azerbaijan would only agree to exchange two soldiers for two prisoners of war.

Sahakyan is confident that Azerbaijan will retain the other Armenian prisoners of war to exert pressure on Armenia. “That is why this approach is unacceptable for Azerbaijan, as they would lose a political leverage against Armenia,” she concluded.