What Information Exists About Vigen Euljeksjyan, Captured in 2020

The issue of Vigen Euljeksjyan, a Lebanese-Armenian captured by Azerbaijani soldiers in 2020, is constantly raised in the Lebanese Parliament and everywhere else. This was stated in an interview with Sputnik Armenia by Pola Yakubyan, an Armenian member of the Lebanese Parliament. According to her, she does not have new information about Vigen, but his family is in constant contact with the Lebanese authorities.

"The problem is that the Azerbaijanis captured Vigen as a Lebanese and portray him as a mercenary. However, he is ethnically Armenian, lived there, and was defending his home," noted Yakubyan.

She indicated that the Lebanese authorities are in regular contact with senior Azerbaijani officials regarding the issue of Vigen's release. She believes that the Armenian diaspora also has a significant role to play in this matter and emphasizes the need to continuously speak about Vigen and lobby for his release.

It is worth recalling that Vigen Euljeksjyan has been charged in Azerbaijan with "mercenary activity", "terrorism", and "illegal crossing of the State border of Azerbaijan". He has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

In 2015, Euljeksjyan received Armenian citizenship and moved first to Yerevan, and later to Shushi in 2019. On November 10, 2020, he was taken captive along with Maral Najaryan by Azerbaijani soldiers. Later, Najaryan was released through the mediation of the Russian side.