“The National Assembly was obliged to make a condemning statement about the prisoners.” Anna Grigoryan

“The structure with the number 1 mandate, the National Assembly, was obliged to make at least a condemning statement with regard the war prisoners,” told Anna Grigoryan, an independent MP from the “My Step” faction, who recently became a deputy from Syunik and was elected, instead of Tigran Karapetyan, who resigned ahead of schedule.

According to Anna Grigoryan, a draft statement has been circulated in the parliament, which proposes to condemn Azerbaijan’s policy of obstructing the repatriation of captive servicemen and civilians. The authors of the statement are three deputies, Taguhi Tovmasyan, Anna Grigoryan, and Vardan Atabekyan, who left the ruling “My Step” of the National Assembly after the war and are now not included in any faction. According to them, by holding the captives, Azerbaijan is politicizing the humanitarian process, delaying their return, violating the international obligations under the 1949 Convention on the Treatment of Prisoners of War (Article 118 of the Geneva Convention, “Prisoners of war shall be released and repatriated immediately after the cessation of hostilities”) should therefore be severely assessed and condemned by the international community and human rights organizations. These formulations were also included in the draft statement.

“The National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia condemns the obstruction of the repatriation of prisoners of war, hostages, and other detainees under the control of Azerbaijan under the conditions of anti-Armenian hatred and organized hostility in Azerbaijan. therefore, they should be severely assessed and condemned by international organizations, the international community, and human rights organizations.

The project also mentions earlier, in 2020 the message adopted by the National Assembly, in which the Armenian Parliament called on the international community to urge Azerbaijan to immediately hand over Armenian prisoners of war and imprisoned civilians. In a new statement condemning Azerbaijan’s policy of preventing the repatriation of prisoners of war and captive civilians, the authors of the draft expect the international community to compel Azerbaijan to fulfill its obligations under the Geneva Conventions. The project was agreed with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Human Rights Defender so as not to harm the prisoners. A draft declaration requires at least 67 votes in favor, i.e. a parliamentary majority must be in favor. The authors of the statement have already held door-to-door discussions with the representatives of the ruling party before launching the draft, and, according to them, the approach was positive; According to them, the parliament should give its assessment, and hardly anyone in our parliament will oppose condemning Azerbaijan.

Independent MP Anna Grigoryan, during her briefing, also referred to the security of Syunik and the danger of losing new territories. We have surrendered to the security zone of Syunik; today it turns out that the Azerbaijani Armed Forces are only a few kilometers away from our airport, there are villages a few meters away.

Anna Grigoryan: “Dear compatriots, I have decided to take the mandate given to me by leaving the” My Step “faction at the same time! At this difficult “historical moment” for our country, I consider it my duty to make the just demands of the people heard, without being constrained by any political force. I am taking my mandate as an independent, non-partisan MP for the benefit of Syunik, for the benefit of Vayots Dzor, for the benefit of Armenia.”

Full text in Armenian