Ruling regime will not allow returned prisoners to speak out about  real conditions of their detention in Baku - expert 

ArmInfo. The Armenian authorities' attempts to conceal the health problems of Armenians who have returned from Azerbaijani captivity indicate that the ruling Armenian regime continues to shape processes in Armenian society  toward a picture of reality that is convenient for the Azerbaijani  side. Artsakh security expert Alen Ghulyan expressed this opinion on  his Facebook page in connection with the transfer of four prisoners  held by Azerbaijan to the Armenian side.

Specifically, Gevorg Sujyan, David Davtyan, Vigen Euljekchyan, and  Vagif Khachatryan.

The expert recalled that after the transfer of the four prisoners to  the Armenian side, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced  to the entire world that "they have no preliminary health problems,"  and that Vagif Khachatryan's condition is "satisfactory." In this  regard, he recalled that, up until this day, information had been  systematically appearing in the media for a long time about the  deteriorating health of Armenian prisoners of war held in Azerbaijani  prisons. "These weren't isolated rumors, but rather repeated  statements from relatives, appeals from lawyers, and alarming signals  that even reached international bodies. The condition of the Lebanese  Armenian Vigen Euljekchyan and Vagif Khachatryan was particularly  concerning. Relatives openly spoke of their deteriorating health, the  deprivation of adequate medical care, signs of physical and  psychological exhaustion, and even of Euljekchyan's attempted  suicide," Gulyan recalled.

Gulyan believes that with this statement, the Armenian prime minister  is effectively negating previously disseminated information,  including lengthy appeals from families and data that had even been  discussed internationally.

According to him, the ruling party, led by Prime Minister Nikol  Pashinyan, will now begin publicly praising the conditions of  detention of Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijan, speaking of  "civilized" prisons, alleged adherence to international standards,  and the "humane treatment" of prison guards. "There will be speeches  of gratitude, assurances that 'no one was beaten,' 'there was no  torture,' and all of this is 'exaggeration,'" Gulyan believes.

In light of this, the expert suggested that Armenians returning from  captivity will be tacitly, and perhaps even openly, prohibited from  telling the truth. "They will not be allowed in interviews and public  appearances to talk about the real conditions of detention, torture,  harassment, psychological pressure, and the systematic humiliation of  human dignity. Their silence will become part of the deal, part of  the imposed 'peace narrative.' They may even be used in election  campaigns," Gulyan concluded. As a reminder, on January 14, 2026,  Azerbaijan released four illegally held Armenian prisoners in  exchange for two Syrian mercenaries fighting on Azerbaijan's side  during the 2020 war unleashed by the Azerbaijani-Turkish tandem  against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

Vagif Khachatryan had been held in custody since 2023, after being  abducted by Azerbaijani forces during a medical evacuation from  Nagorno-Karabakh as part of an ICRC mission. Vigen Euljekjian, a  Lebanese citizen, had been held by Azerbaijan since 2020, having been  captured after the 2020 ceasefire while transiting the Lachin  corridor. Gevorg Sujyan and Davit Davtyan were captured by  Azerbaijani forces the day after the signing of the ceasefire  agreement ending the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War. Both were civilians  and founders of a charitable NGO. In exchange, Armenia released two  Syrian mercenaries, Mukhrab Muhammad al-Shkheri and Yousef Alabed  al-Hajin, who had been captured by Armenian forces in November 2020.  Both confessed to serving as mercenaries during their trial and were  sentenced to life imprisonment by an Armenian court in 2021 for  crimes committed against Artsakh civilians. At the time, the  mercenaries testified that they were ordered to spare no life and  were given clear instructions and material rewards for the beheadings  of Armenian prisoners.

At least nineteen Armenian prisoners of war remain in illegal  detention in Azerbaijan, where they continue to be subjected to  torture and abuse. They include eight former Nagorno-Karabakh  officials: former State Minister (2022-2023) Ruben Vardanyan; former  President (2020-2023) Arayik Harutyunyan; former President  (2007-2020) Bako Sahakyan; former President (1997-2007) Arkady  Ghukasyan; Speaker of the National Assembly David Ishkhanyan; former  Foreign Minister David Babayan; former Defense Minister Levon  Mnatsakanyan; and former Deputy Defense Minister David Manukyan.