Yerkrapah chairman about Armenian captives: they trusted Russia

PanARMENIAN.Net - Chairman of the Yerkrapah Volunteer Union, Sasun Mikayelyan, stated at the Yerablur Military Pantheon that all Armenians must demand the return of POWs.

"They trusted Russia and went to the end," he said, as reported by Factor.am .

"We must all demand that the prisoners be returned, especially the three former presidents and the former commanders of the Artsakh Defense Army. This is our duty and our shared pain," he added.

Leader of the Armenia parliamentary faction, Seyran Ohanyan, emphasized that the issue of captives must remain a central topic in negotiations with Azerbaijan.

"The authorities must ensure that this issue is raised both in bilateral negotiations and on international platforms," he stated, stressing that covert initiatives should not replace open diplomatic efforts, Radar.am reports.

According to Ohanyan, the matter should be addressed at international institutions, where the most effective resolution can be achieved. He recalled that the November 9 trilateral statement included provisions for the return of prisoners, yet Azerbaijan has failed to comply.

"Constant concessions to Azerbaijan lead nowhere good," he warned.

Ohanyan also condemned the ongoing trials in Baku, calling them fabricated.

"These trials do not only target the individuals accused but also attack Artsakh’s right to self-determination, shifting all blame onto Armenia," he said.

March 5 marks the birthday of Vazgen Sargsyan, who would have turned 66. His relatives, friends, and political figures visited Yerablur to pay respects. Sargsyan was assassinated during the October 27, 1999, terrorist attack in the Armenian Parliament.