Artsakh delegation discusses with French officials issue of  intensifying international pressure for release of Armenian prisoners  of war from Baku

ArmInfo. During a visit to the Paris Municipality, a delegation led by Speaker of the National Assembly of Artsakh Ashot Danielyan raised the issue of intensifying international pressure mechanisms for the release of Armenian  prisoners of war illegally held in Baku.

As reported to ArmInfo by the Artsakh Parliament's press service,  during a meeting with Audrey Poulvar, Deputy Mayor of Paris  responsible for international cooperation, Danielyan expressed  gratitude to the Paris Municipality for its continued attention and  support to the people of Artsakh. He emphasized that this support was  of great importance both during the Artsakh blockade and during the  difficult and tragic events that followed. The parties also discussed  the socioeconomic problems of the people of Artsakh and ways to  overcome them. Particular attention was paid to the importance of  realizing the right of the people of Artsakh to safe, dignified, and  collective return. Following the meeting at the Paris Municipal Hall,  a preliminary agreement was reached to organize a joint event in  Yerevan in the near future.

That same day, according to the source, the delegation visited the  city of Alfortville, where they met with Mayor Luc Karvounas, Member  of the French National Assembly Isabelle Santiago, and Deputy Mayor  Karo Khachikyan. During the meeting, the parties praised the  long-standing support provided by the Alfortville City Council and  the city's population to the protection of the rights and interests  of the Artsakh people, emphasizing its significant impact during the  Azerbaijani aggression against Artsakh. Prospects for expanding and  ensuring the continuity of future cooperation were also discussed.

As a reminder, on September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan, under the pretext  of an "anti-terrorist operation," initiated a large-scale aggression  against Artsakh, which led to the complete de-Armenization of the  NKR.  This was preceded by a nearly 10-month blockade of the  republic. Since the enemy aggression that began in the fall of 2020,  which culminated in the complete ethnic cleansing of Artsakh in  September 2023, over 150,000 Artsakh residents have lost their  homeland and become refugees.

It should be noted that the exact number of Armenian prisoners of war  and hostages held in Azerbaijani prisons remains unknown. Experts  estimate the number to be several hundred. Today, Azerbaijani  authorities confirm the presence of 19 Armenians in their custody.  Among those held in Azerbaijani captivity are eight former and  current members of the military-political leadership of Artsakh.  These include former Artsakh presidents Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako  Sahakyan, and Arayik Harutyunyan; former Foreign Minister Davit  Babayan; as well as Parliament Speaker Davit Ishkhanyan; former  Commander-in- Chief of the Artsakh Defense Army General Levon  Mnatsakanyan; General David Manukyan; and former State Minister Ruben  Vardanyan.

Today, a Baku puppet court sentenced Arayik Harutyunyan, Davit  Babayan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Davit Manukyan, and Levon Mnatsakanyan to  life imprisonment on trumped-up charges, and Bako Sahakyan, Arkady  Ghukasyan, and Ruben Vardanyan to 20 years in prison. The so-called  court sentenced the remaining Artsakh residents to up to 15 years in  prison.