Armenia explains reluctance to publish POW data

PanARMENIAN.Net - Data and details about captives and prisoners of war kept in Armenia and Azerbaijan are not subject to publication, given the hypersensitive nature of the issue, a statement from Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan's office says.

"Armenia approaches any issue connected with prisoners of war with utmost responsibility, refrains from making statements that could harm the process of the fast and safe repatriation of our compatriots," the statement obtained and published by Armenpress reads.

"When it comes to the lists of captives submitted by the Armenian side, we should inform you that we have done so regularly, in several stages and taking into account all the updates. By the way, the complete lists were handed over to the Russian side and the ICRC back in December."

The comments came after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the Armenian side did not immediately submit complete lists of prisoners of war kept in Azerbaijan.