Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia discussed Armenian prisoners with Pope Leo XIV during a meeting at the Vatican and stressed the right of Artsakh Armenians to return under international guarantees, according to a statement published on the Catholicosate’s Facebook page.
He also addressed the issue of preserving Armenian churches and historical monuments, emphasizing that this should be carried out in accordance with international law.
“Addressing the Artsakh issue, His Holiness emphasized the right of the Armenians of Artsakh to return under international guarantees, the preservation of churches and historical monuments in accordance with international law, and the urgent necessity of releasing the detained Artsakh leaders held in Baku,” the statement said.
A court in Baku sentenced Ruben Vardanyan to 20 years in prison.
Former Nagorno-Karabakh Republic 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, along with former Artsakh Foreign Minister Davit Babayan and National Assembly Speaker Davit Ishkhanyan. Former Artsakh 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 Alaverdyan and Levon Balayan to 16 years, while Erik Ghazaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan and Vasil Beglaryan received 15-year prison sentences.
