On January 6, as Armenians celebrated Christmas, Martine Vassal, head of the Bouches-du-Rhône Departmental Council and Aix–Marseille–Provence Metropolis, published an article about Armenian detainees held in Azerbaijan, emphasizing that “behind every prisoner, there is a waiting family,” reports Pastinfo.
Her message gained wide attention after being shared by French Senator Valérie Boyer and other politicians, who echoed her emotionally charged appeal: “How can we celebrate hope when fathers and sons are missing?”
Vassal added, “We cannot celebrate freedom here and stay silent about those suffering in prisons elsewhere.”
Azerbaijani media report that prosecutors are seeking life sentences for former President of Nagorno-Karabakh Arayik Harutyunyan, former Foreign Minister David Babayan, former Defense Army Commander Levon Mnatsakanyan, former Deputy Commander David Manukyan, and former National Assembly Speaker David Ishkhanyan.
In addition, prosecutors have demanded 20-year prison terms for former Presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan, as well as Madat Babayan and Melikset Pashayan. Other requested sentences include: Garik Martirosyan – 19 years, David Alaverdyan – 18 years, Levon Babayan – 17 years, and 16 years each for Vasil Beglaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan, and Edik Ghazaryan.
