Lawmaker says Armenian POW issue in the center of PACE's attention

PanARMENIAN.Net - Head of the Armenian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Ruben Rubinyan has discussed the issue of the return of Armenian prisoners of war from Azerbaijan with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Maria Pejčinović-Burić and the President of the PACE Rik Daems, Rubinyan himself said on Facebook Tuesday, January 27.

"Both officials assured that they will keep the issue of the fate of the Armenian prisoners of war and other detained persons in Azerbaijan, as well as manifestations of Armenophobia in Azerbaijan in the center of their attention," Robinyan wrote.

Meeting in Strasbourg, the sides have also discussed the possible visit of CoE and PACE representatives to Artsakh (Karabakh).

The first batch of 44 Armenian POWs returned from Azerbaijan in mid-December, although Armenian officials said many more people were being held in Baku. Dozens of others, both servicemen and civilians, have been captured after the completion of military hostilities. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has said in one of his speeches that the newly detained persons are not prisoners of war but “terrorists”. Human rights lawyer Siranush Sahakyan has said, meanwhile, that at least 120 Armenian prisoners of war are being held in Azerbaijan. Sahakyan represents the rights of some of the Karabakh POWs before the European Court of Human Rights. The lawyer said there is enough evidence proving the capture of said persons, which the Armenian side will submit to international agencies and courts.