ArmInfo. The legal and judicial method of ensuring the rights of Armenian prisoners of war in Baku is ineffective. Artsakh Ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan expressed a similar opinion during a press conference on February 15.
He noted that the Azerbaijani side turned the issue of the return of prisoners of war into a subject of bargaining in order to achieve concessions from the Republic of Armenia.
According to the Ombudsman, without specific political pressure from the United States and the international community as a whole, it is impossible to ensure the return of prisoners of war and other detainees, relying only on international law.
"The issue should be raised on a political level, and international political pressure should be exerted on Azerbaijan," he said.
At a meeting with journalists at the end of 2023, international law specialist Siranush Sahakyan announced that there are officially 55 Armenian detainees in Azerbaijan. "Of course, they all have different statuses: prisoners of war, civilians held captive and persons held for political reasons. In particular, 6 civilians held hostage; 41 prisoners of war and 8 former political or military figures who are considered political prisoners ", the human rights activist explained, adding that this is only official data.
According to her, in addition, the Azerbaijani side captured over 80 civilians and servicemen, but nothing is being done to clarify their fate. Sahakyan stated that the first group, officially confirmed, is in a more protected position, unlike the second group. "Since 2021, there have been no recorded cases when Azerbaijan has officially confirmed the fact of holding persons captured during the 44-day war," she explained.