The United States possesses the necessary leverage to compel Baku to return Armenian captives, according to Siranush Sahakyan, legal representative of Armenian prisoners at the European Court of Human Rights.
“In this geopolitical reality, I believe appealing to the American side is the right step. I think the U.S. has the necessary tools and incentives to persuade and pressure the Azerbaijani authorities to return Armenian captives,” Sahakyan told Aysor.am .
She emphasized that the U.S. bears a key and specific responsibility in this matter, especially since the pre-signed peace agreement did not include explicit provisions on the return of prisoners.
“The return of captives is a humanitarian issue. True and lasting peace is only possible through the resolution of humanitarian concerns, the building of trust between societies, and the pursuit of justice. If these principles aren’t upheld, peace cannot be sustainable or realistic. What matters here is the presence of political will. If such will is formed and the U.S. government decides to allocate resources to this issue, viewing it as a priority, I am confident the problem could be resolved in a short time,” she said.
Sahakyan recalled that in 2022, the United States played a key role in the swift return of 33 Armenians captured from Armenia’s sovereign territory near Jermuk. That issue was resolved within two weeks, she noted.
“A positive sign is that the American side speaks publicly about its commitment. If the U.S. government didn’t have a clear way to address the issue, they wouldn’t be speaking so openly about their involvement. The fact that they are doing so is encouraging, and in my view, it suggests we may soon see progress,” she said.
According to Azerbaijani media, prosecutors have requested life sentences for former Nagorno-Karabakh President Arayik Harutyunyan, ex-Foreign Minister Davit Babayan, former Defense Army Commander Levon Mnatsakanyan, former Deputy Commander Davit Manukyan, and former Speaker of the Artsakh National Assembly Davit Ishkhanyan. Additionally, the prosecution has demanded 20-year prison terms for former Karabakh Presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan, as well as Madat Babayan and Pashayan Melikset. Other requested sentences include: Garik Martirosyan – 19 years; Davit Alaverdyan – 18 years; Levon Babayan – 17 years; and 16 years each for Vasil Beglaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan, and Edik Ghazaryan.
