Four Armenians Held in Azerbaijan Returned to Armenia, Says Prime Minister

The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, announced that four Armenians held in Azerbaijan have been returned to Armenia. “Georgi Sujyan, Davit Davtyan, Vigen Euljekjyan, and Vagif Khachatryan were handed over by representatives of the relevant authorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the representatives of the relevant authorities of the Republic of Armenia via the Hakari bridge, and they are now on Armenian territory,” the Prime Minister wrote.

Later, he added, “Georgi Sujyan, Davit Davtyan, and Vigen Euljekjyan do not have health issues according to preliminary examinations. Vagif Khachatryan's health condition is preliminarily assessed as satisfactory. They are being transferred to Yerevan.”

It is reminded that Georgi Sujyan and his friend Davit Davtyan were captured after the ceasefire on November 11 while transporting humanitarian aid to Artsakh. Sujyan was going to Artsakh as the founding president of a charitable NGO. Both were sentenced to 15 years in prison in Azerbaijan. Vigen Euljekjyan, originally from Lebanon, was sentenced to 20 years in prison and was captured again on the Gorais-Berdadzor road the day after the ceasefire.

Vagif Khachatryan was taken captive by Azerbaijanis near the Hakari bridge on July 29, 2023, while attempting to transfer people from the blockaded Artsakh to Armenia with the support of the Red Cross.