Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan brought up the issue of Armenian prisoners held in Baku during a meeting with Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The two discussed humanitarian concerns, focusing on the release of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians held hostage in Azerbaijan, as well as the challenges in organizing Red Cross visits to the detainees following the closure of the ICRC’s office in Azerbaijan.
They expressed hope that the peace established between Armenia and Azerbaijan through the August 8 Washington summit would also contribute to resolving humanitarian issues.
In September 2023, following a nine-month blockade of Artsakh and the ethnic cleansing of its Armenian population, Azerbaijan captured former Artsakh presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, and Arayik Harutyunyan, as well as former state minister Ruben Vardanyan, foreign minister Davit Babayan, and several other former officials. They face fabricated charges that could lead to life imprisonment. On January 17, Azerbaijan began a show trial against them in Baku.
