The Artsakh State Minister proposes creating a trilateral negotiating committee to discuss the release of prisoners

ArmInfo. Artsakh State Minister Nzhdeh Iskandaryan proposed that the authorities of the Republic of Armenia and international organizations initiate the creation of a trilateral negotiating commission on the release of prisoners. He wrote about this on his Facebook page.

According to him, this commission should include representatives of Artsakh, headed by the State Minister, representatives of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, and international mediators and human rights experts.

The commission's main goal should be to conduct direct negotiations with Azerbaijan on the release of all Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan and their return to their homeland.

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 members of the military-political leadership of Artsakh. These include former presidents of Artsakh Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arayik Harutyunyan, former Foreign Minister David Babayan, as well as Parliament Speaker David Ishkhanyan, former Commander of the Artsakh Defense Army General Levon Mnatsakanyan, General David Manukyan, and former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan.