Issue of Armenian prisoners discussed with Vice President of the International Committee of the Red Cross

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Robert Abisoghomonyan met with Gilles Carbonnier, Vice President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The information was reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia.

During the meeting, within the context of post-conflict recovery and reconciliation, the parties emphasized the importance of addressing all humanitarian issues. In particular, reference was made to the issue of Armenian persons held in Baku, clarifying the fates of missing persons, and revealing cases of enforced disappearances.

Earlier, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan spoke at the UN Human Rights Council regarding the fate of the prisoners and missing persons held in Baku. In his speech, he specifically noted that after decades of armed conflicts and humanitarian crises, Armenia and Azerbaijan took decisive steps toward establishing long-term peace in our region.

This is certainly a complex process, considering that 19 Armenian detainees are still in Baku, there is a need to clarify the fates of missing persons and reveal cases of enforced disappearances, and at the same time, distorted historical narratives are being disseminated.

It should be recalled that the verdicts issued in Baku were published on February 5. Former President of the Republic of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan, former Commander of the Defense Army Levon Mnatsakanyan, and his former deputy David Manukyan were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Former Presidents of Artsakh Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan were sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment.

Among the civilians, Madat Babayan and Melkiset Pashayan were sentenced to 19 years, Garik Martirosyan to 18 years, David Allahverdyan and Levon Balayan to 16 years, and Erik Ghazaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan, and Vasil Beglaryan to 15 years of imprisonment.

The case of former State Minister of Artsakh Ruben Vardanyan was examined in a separate proceeding, and on February 17, he was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment.