The Strong Armenia party will create a special group to work on the return of Armenian prisoners held in Baku if it comes to power, the party’s prime ministerial candidate Samvel Karapetyan said during a meeting with residents of Armenia’s Lori province in the yard of his residence.
He expressed confidence that his political force would be able to resolve the issue, Sputnik Armenia reports.
“We cannot watch this disgrace that the neighboring country is committing against our state. We as a nation appear weak, but only our government is weak,” he said.
Karapetyan also pledged to use his international connections to ensure that every possible effort is made to secure the return of Armenian prisoners.
Addressing social issues, he said that “the authorities are building 30 schools today while closing 240,” according to Aysor.am.
“We are moving to solve the most important issue — first of all ensuring natural population growth and the continuity of life in villages. This must become the main program of our state. The authorities are emptying border villages, and the danger is greater than you imagine.
I understand the condition of those villages where, apart from asphalt, no issue has been solved. They bring asphalt to villages, but no one lives there. That is exactly what I was talking about,” Karapetyan said.
According to official data, 19 Armenian prisoners are being held in Azerbaijan. The “trial” of former military and political leaders of Artsakh, which began in Baku in January 2025, concluded on February 5 this year, after which verdicts were announced. Former Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan, former Defense Army commander Levon Mnatsakanyan, and former deputy commander of the Defense Army Davit Manukyan were sentenced to life imprisonment. Former Artsakh presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan received 20-year prison sentences.
Civilian prisoners Madat Babayan and Melkiset Pashayan were sentenced to 19 years in prison, Garik Martirosyan to 18 years, Davit Alaverdyan and Levon Balayan to 16 years, while Erik Ghazaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan and Vasil Beglaryan received 15-year sentences.
The case of former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan was examined separately. On February 17, it became known that a Baku court sentenced Ruben Vardanyan to 20 years in prison.
