Guterres backs Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process as Armenian prisoners remain in Baku

YEREVAN— United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed support for the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process during his October 15 visit to Yerevan, while acknowledging that significant outstanding issues remain, including the continued detention of Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan.

Speaking at a press conference, Guterres was asked whether lasting peace could be achieved while Armenian detainees remained imprisoned in Baku and what message he would convey to Azerbaijani authorities.

The UN chief reaffirmed his support for the peace agreement and expressed hope that negotiations would advance quickly, describing the unresolved issues as regrettable. However, he stopped short of explicitly demanding the prisoners’ release.

His remarks came amid continuing concerns over the fate of Armenian detainees, including former Artsakh political and military leaders, who have faced controversial trials in Azerbaijan.

Earlier, Guterres met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to discuss regional developments, the peace process and the implementation of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP).

Pashinyan maintained that Armenia’s priority remains the formal signing and ratification of a peace agreement with Azerbaijan, acknowledging that the process would not be without difficulties.

The two officials also discussed TRIPP, the US-backed transportation initiative intended to connect mainland Azerbaijan with Nakhichevan through southern Armenia. Both emphasized its potential contribution to regional connectivity and economic cooperation.

Despite the diplomatic optimism, the agreement initialled in Washington in August 2025 remains unsigned. Azerbaijan has continued to demand constitutional changes in Armenia as a condition for its formal conclusion.

Meanwhile, the continued imprisonment of Armenian detainees and the unresolved rights of more than 100,000 Armenians displaced from Artsakh in 2023 remain major humanitarian concerns.

Guterres visited Armenia to participate in the high-level summit associated with COP17, the United Nations biodiversity conference hosted by Yerevan. He praised Armenia’s diplomatic efforts and its preparations for the international gathering.

His visit nevertheless highlighted the considerable distance that remains between international expressions of support for regional peace and the resolution of the humanitarian and political issues left in the aftermath of the Artsakh conflict.