Parents of Armenian POWs block Shirak roads, demand immediate return of their sons from Azerbaijan

Panorama, Armenia
April 9 2021

Parents of Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) being held in Azerbaijan on Friday blocked all the roads leading to Shirak Province, demanding the immediate repatriation of their sons.

The protest came after Armenian premier’s spokesperson Mane Gevorgyan told media outlets that a group of POWs were supposed to be flown to Armenia late on Thursday.

Parents of the captured soldiers gathered at Yerevan’s Erebuni Airport to welcome their sons, however an empty plane landed at the airport.

Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan’s office said in a statement that their repatriation has again been postponed, because Azerbaijan is failing to fulfill Article 8 of the November 9 trilateral statement.

“We will stay here until we are given a clear response. We want to know when our children will be repatriated,” said one of the protesting parents.

Another parent underlined that the authorities’ promise to get back the POWs is not enough for them, as they could be deceived again.

“We will stay here until they bring our children back – all of 54 soldiers. We will keep all the roads leading to the region blocked,” they said.

Disclaimer: This article was contributed and translated into English by Emil Lazarian. While we strive for quality, the views and accuracy of the content remain the responsibility of the contributor. Please verify all facts independently before reposting or citing.

Direct link to this article: https://www.armenianclub.com/2021/04/10/parents-of-armenian-pows-block-shirak-roads-demand-immediate-return-of-their-sons-from-azerbaijan/

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS