Artsakh Armenians protest, demand return of captives

PanARMENIAN.Net - A group of displaced Artsakh Armenians staged a protest in front of Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, calling on the government to take urgent action to secure the return of prisoners of war and to preserve the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. They also stressed the importance of defending the right of Artsakh Armenians to return to their homeland.

Speaking to journalists, protester Anastas Israelian emphasized the right of Artsakh’s population to self-determination and argued that no one has the authority to make decisions on their behalf regarding the future of Artsakh. He criticized the stance of Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and the current administration.

“As a people, we must fight for the rights tied to our identity and existence as Armenians. Governments are temporary, but we live here and own our rights,” said Israelian. “The fact that you don’t have an answer doesn’t mean there is no answer—only that you as leaders are unable to articulate it. Time will come, leaders will come, and there are still documents that allow the issue to remain open.”

He blamed the current administration for the situation, noting that previously Artsakh’s demands were limited to two points—self-determination and status—but since its fall, the list has grown to 12, and could double if unaddressed. “This is a national issue. It concerns us all,” he added.

Artak Beglaryan, former State Minister and Human Rights Ombudsman of Artsakh, also spoke with reporters, stressing the government's responsibility to keep Artsakh on the political agenda.

“If we don’t speak up, both internally and externally, many will assume the issue is closed and the forced displacement of the Artsakh people is accepted,” Beglaryan said. “The Armenian government is primarily responsible for ensuring that the page on Artsakh is not closed.”

While expressing limited expectations from the current administration, Beglaryan said public pressure could still influence outcomes. “Diplomats from other countries often ask what we expect from them when Armenia itself doesn't raise the issue in its foreign policy. This is logical. Our first demand must be directed at our own government. But that doesn’t mean we should abandon international advocacy,” he added.

The protesters are demanding specific measures from the Foreign Ministry to enable the collective return of displaced Artsakh Armenians, the release of prisoners, protection of cultural heritage and private property, and legal actions through international platforms like the International Criminal Court. They reiterated that the OSCE Minsk Group should not be disbanded.

These demands were previously submitted to the Armenian government in a formal letter.

In a response, the Foreign Ministry reiterated its earlier statements, noting that Armenia had worked during negotiations with Azerbaijan to ensure the rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, including efforts to establish international mechanisms. However, the ministry emphasized that after the dissolution of Nagorno-Karabakh and the mass displacement of its population, the issue is no longer part of the bilateral agenda between Armenia and Azerbaijan.