Armen Ishkhanyan, son of former Artsakh National Assembly speaker Davit Ishkhanyan, spoke at the European Parliament about Armenian prisoners of war held in Baku, citing his father as saying that Azerbaijan uses the captives against Armenia.

“As my father has said, this trial is directed against the Republic of Armenia. Although almost all peace agreements known in international practice have led, first and foremost, to the release of prisoners of war. Azerbaijan consistently avoids doing so,” he said in a speech at European Parliament conference titled “Armenian political prisoners in Azerbaijan and imperative of EU engagement,” Panorama.am reports.

He stressed: “Armenian prisoners of war held in Baku are today being used by Azerbaijan against Armenia.”

On July 14, the conference titled “Armenian political prisoners in Azerbaijan and imperative of EU engagement” opened in Brussels.

ARF European Armenian National Committee office said the conference aims to provide an up-to-date assessment of situation of Armenian hostages and political prisoners held in Azerbaijan. It was co-hosted by members of European Parliament Costas Mavrides (S&D, Cyprus) and Miriam Lexmann (EPP, Slovakia), with organizational support from European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD).

Baku court sentenced Ruben Vardanyan to 20 years in prison.

Former NKR President Arayik Harutyunyan was sentenced to life imprisonment. Former Defense Army commander Levon Mnatsakanyan and former first deputy commander Davit Manukyan were also sentenced to life imprisonment, as were former Artsakh Republic Foreign Minister Davit Babayan and National Assembly speaker Davit Ishkhanyan. Former Artsakh Republic presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan were sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Madat Babayan and Melikset Pashayan were sentenced to 19 years in prison, Garik Martirosyan to 18 years, Davit Allahverdyan and Levon Balayan to 16 years, and Erik Ghazaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan and Vasily Beglaryan to 15 years in prison.