Pashinyan complains of Baku sham trials, use of prohibited methods

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, in an interview with Turkish media, addressed the issue of prisoners, expressing the Armenian government's deep concern and describing these trials as staged.

"In our assessment, these are staged trials where prohibited methods, including torture, are used. According to our data, other illegal methods are also being applied," he said.

Pashinyan said that the trilateral agreement, which Azerbaijan frequently refers to when discussing the so-called "corridor," explicitly mentions the exchange and return of prisoners of war, hostages, and other detainees. However, this issue remains unresolved.

"The trilateral agreement mentions Nagorno-Karabakh, yet Azerbaijan insists that Nagorno-Karabakh no longer exists. The agreement also refers to the return of refugees to Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas, but since its signing, the number of refugees has only increased due to forced displacement. This is not a proper approach—selectively interpreting the agreement, sometimes claiming it is no longer valid, while in other cases insisting on its relevance and even attributing provisions that do not exist. After all, it is a public document," the Prime Minister stated.

He also spoke about the Armenian government's efforts to repatriate the prisoners.

"As long as this issue remains unresolved, anyone can claim that the government is not making sufficient efforts. However, until December 2023, when our captured compatriots were finally returned, there was intense criticism, alleging that the government was doing nothing. In reality, efforts were ongoing, and this became evident only after the official announcements," Pashinyan said.

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution demanding the immediate release of Armenian prisoners of war and other detainees held in Azerbaijan.