Michael O’Flaherty, Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe, stressed the importance of protecting the rights of all people in the region and ensuring the right of voluntary return for those wishing to go back to Nagorno-Karabakh.

His comments came during a plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, where he also addressed the situation of Armenian detainees held in Baku and the alleged sham trials they face, according to Armenpress.

“I also encourage Armenia to continue its welcoming approach toward people displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh,” he added.

O’Flaherty was responding to a question from Arusyak Julhakyan, a member of Armenia’s Civil Contract faction in parliament, regarding the Armenian prisoners held in Baku.

On September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale offensive against Nagorno-Karabakh, subjecting the entire region to heavy shelling. The next day, on September 20, the authorities of the Republic of Artsakh accepted a ceasefire proposal from the Russian peacekeeping mission command, agreeing to Baku’s terms, including the disarmament of the Artsakh Defense Army and the dissolution of the Republic of Artsakh. Forced displacement of the local Armenian population began on September 24, with over 100,000 people fleeing to Armenia. Some reports indicate that only about 20 Armenians remain in Nagorno-Karabakh. On September 28, Artsakh President Samvel Shahramanyan signed a decree to dissolve the republic, effective January 1, 2024.