The issue of the return of Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan has become one of the key topics of Armenia’s political agenda. Samvel Karapetyan, the leader of the “Strong Armenia” opposition party, promised to create a special committee and use all international connections for the speedy release of compatriots, harshly criticizing the current government for its inability to protect the interests of citizens.
On May 17, during a meeting with the residents of Lori region, the politician stated that only his team is capable of effectively solving the problem of the return of detained persons. Karapetyan considered the created situation unacceptable, stressing that only the government, not the Armenian people, is showing weakness in the international arena.
According to his conviction, all previous military and political achievements of the state were destroyed due to the incompetence of the current leadership. In order to overcome the crisis, the leader of the party intends to form a separate profile group, which will focus exclusively on the issue of prisoners both within the framework of direct dialogue with Baku and on the platforms of international structures.
The aggravation of the problem is due to the unprecedentedly harsh verdicts passed by the Azerbaijani courts. According to Baku’s official data, nineteen Armenian citizens are being held in Azerbaijan. Among them are the former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh, whom the Azerbaijani side has seriously accused of terrorism, genocide and war crimes.
Ex-president Arayik Harutyunyan, former high-ranking military officers Levon Mnatsakanyan and Davit Manukyan, as well as politicians Davit Babayan and Davit Ishkhanyan were sentenced to life imprisonment. Former leaders Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan, as well as former state minister Ruben Vardanyan were sentenced to twenty years in prison. Sentences ranging from fifteen to nineteen years were also imposed on a number of arrested civilians.
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