Aliyev's Announced Amnesty Will Not Apply to Armenian Hostages, Says Siranush Sahakyan

“To be honest, I do not see any connection between the publication of the letter addressed to Mehriban Aliyeva, the Vice President of Azerbaijan, from Vigen Euljekyan's wife and the upcoming amnesty in Azerbaijan. I do not believe that this amnesty will apply to Armenian hostages; there will be a logical disconnection here,” Siranush Sahakyan, a defender of the rights of Armenian prisoners of war and hostages at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), told Panorama.am.

She elaborated that Azerbaijani prosecutors, who are representatives of the state, speak of numerous factors that exacerbate the acts and guilt of individuals held as hostages in court, after which they demand life sentences as a form of punishment, somewhat satisfying societal anti-Armenian sentiments. In this context, it is unlikely that the same Armenian hostages would be the target of the amnesty.

“I believe that amnesties in Azerbaijan are conditioned by internal political and other factors, and therefore will not affect Armenian hostages. Not even Vigen’s. We must note that the release of prisoners has lost its humanitarian nature,” the lawyer emphasized.

Sahakyan stated that Azerbaijan has never approached the issue from a humanitarian perspective; the matter of hostages serves as an additional lever to guarantee the concessions of the Armenian authorities in politically significant matters.

“In the past, we have also had cases where family members have appealed to the wife of the President of Azerbaijan again for humanitarian reasons, but it did not result in a humanitarian gesture,” she said, adding that as long as issues that have become bargaining chips are not somewhat resolved, the Azerbaijani authorities will not organize new releases.

When asked about the new publication of the letter sent by Vigen Euljekyan's wife in August, Sahakyan suggested that it may have a propaganda purpose.

Earlier, it was reported that Linda Euljekyan sent a letter to Mehriban Aliyeva, asking for clemency for her husband, Vigen Euljekyan, who has been in prison for nearly five years, according to Azerbaijani media.