Pashinyan Reminded of Armenian Captives

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan issued a statement declaring that Armenians held captive by Azerbaijan are a result of conflict, not peace. In his video address, he emphasized that peace increases the chances of releasing the captives, while conflict makes this virtually impossible.

Pashinyan also called it "unworthy that we got involved in a conflict at someone's instigation and allowed ourselves to be used against others."

Earlier, the Prime Minister criticized the Moscow-led CSTO, claiming that the organization, as a security guarantor, "sent us to the slaughter" in 2020, referring to the war with Azerbaijan.

As of early 2025, Azerbaijan handed over four detainees to Armenia, but according to Armenian human rights activists, approximately 80 Armenians remain in captivity. In February 2025, verdicts were handed down in the cases of former Nagorno-Karabakh leaders.

Former president of the self-proclaimed republic Arayik Harutyunyan, former commander of the Defense Army Levon Mnatsakanyan, his deputy David Manukyan, former speaker of the National Assembly David Ishkhanyan, and former foreign minister David Babayan were sentenced to life imprisonment. Former Nagorno-Karabakh presidents Arkady Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan were sentenced to 20 years in prison. Former state minister, billionaire, and former Russian citizen Ruben Vardanyan received a similar sentence.

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