US Vice President will discuss the release of Armenian prisoners at meetings in Baku.
YEREVAN, February 10. /ARКА/. US Vice President J.D. Vance announced that he intends to raise the issue of the release of Armenian prisoners held in Baku at meetings in Azerbaijan.
"Yes, I will discuss the issue of Armenian prisoners. We have very good relations with both the Prime Minister of Armenia and the President of Azerbaijan," Vance told Armenian journalists at Yerevan's Zvartnots Airport on Tuesday before departing for Baku.
The US Vice President also cited Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who stated the previous day that he was "optimistic about a peace agreement with Azerbaijan, given where we are now and where we were several months ago."
"So, of course, we will raise a number of issues. I believe we will continue to work very successfully with both the Azerbaijanis and the Armenians," Vance said.
A US delegation led by Vance paid a two-day visit to Armenia on February 9-10. From Yerevan, Vance traveled to Baku. The US State Department stated that the purpose of the regional visit was to facilitate the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan and promote the TRIPP (Trump Route for Regional Peace and Prosperity) project.
On Armenian prisoners in Baku
On January 14, 2025, Azerbaijan handed over four detainees to Armenia: Gevorg Sujyan, David Davtyan, Vigen Euljekjyan, and Vagif Khachatryan. These individuals were among 33 Armenian prisoners of war and civilians whose detention was officially confirmed by Baku.
At the same time, Armenian human rights organizations claim that approximately 80 more Armenians are still in captivity.
On February 5, a Baku court published the verdicts in criminal cases against members of the former military and political leadership of Artsakh. Former Nagorno-Karabakh President Arayik Harutyunyan, former Defense Army Commander Levon Mnatsakanyan, former Deputy Defense Army Commander Davit Manukyan, former National Assembly Speaker Davit Ishkhanyan, and former Foreign Minister Davit Babayan were sentenced to life imprisonment.
Former Nagorno-Karabakh Presidents Arkady Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan were sentenced to 20 years in prison due to their age reaching 65, as Azerbaijani law does not provide for life imprisonment for individuals of that age.
Former Artsakh State Minister, billionaire and philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan, and other prisoners remain in the dock.-0-
