


ArmInfo. The issue of prisoners is a permanent part of our agenda. Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan stated this during government hour on October 28.
When asked whether the Armenian side had approached third countries with a request to organize a mission and visit Armenian prisoners in Baku, Mirzoyan noted that such attempts had been made, but they were unsuccessful.
It should be noted that the exact number of Armenian prisoners of war and hostages held in Azerbaijani prisons is still unknown. Experts estimate there are several hundred. Today, the Azerbaijani authorities confirm the presence of 19 Armenians. Among those held in Azerbaijani captivity are eight former and current representatives of the military-political leadership of Artsakh. These include former Artsakh presidents Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arayik Harutyunyan, former Foreign Minister Davit Babayan, as well as Parliament Speaker Davit Ishkhanyan, former Commander of the Artsakh Defense Army General Levon Mnatsakanyan, General David Manukyan, and former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan. In February, a Baku puppet court sentenced Arayik Harutyunyan, David Babayan, David Ishkhanyan, David Manukyan, and Levon Mnatsakanyan to life imprisonment, and Bako Sahakyan, Arkady Ghukasyan, and Ruben Vardanyan to 20 years in prison on trumped-up charges. The so-called court sentenced the remaining Artsakh residents to up to 15 years in prison.


