Armenia undertaking efforts to swiftly address situation with Armenian captives in Azerbaijan - Pashinyan

YEREVAN, August 18. /ARKA/. Extensive diplomatic efforts are currently underway to promptly resolve the issue of Armenian captives in Azerbaijan, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an address to the public on Monday.

According to him, discussions on a peace treaty with Azerbaijan commenced in the spring of 2022, and substantial endeavors were made to incorporate this issue into the peace agreement.

"However, as the negotiations dragged on, we recognized that the inclusion of this issue in the peace agreement could be interpreted as if their return was to be considered only after the peace treaty had been signed and ratified. We were not and will not be influenced by this presumption," he said.," he stated.

In this context, Pashinyan noted that due to this approach, 58 Armenian captives have been released since the start of negotiations on the peace treaty.

"Had this issue been confined to the peace treaty framework, it is possible that this outcome would not have occurred, and it is highly likely that it would not have happened," he added.

Azerbaijan officially acknowledges the detention of only 33 Armenian prisoners of war and civilians; however, Armenian human rights advocates assert that there are an additional 80 Armenian prisoners. -0-