Armenian prisoners’ fate depends on Baku, but U.S. Pressure can be decisive – Sahakyan

(Horizon Weekly) – The release of Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan depends on multilateral negotiations and cannot be resolved solely through U.S. intervention, said Siranush Sahakyan, the legal representative of Armenian prisoners at the European Court of Human Rights and Executive Director of the Armenian Legal Centre, in comments to NEWS.am.

Sahakyan was responding to remarks made by J.D. Vance, who stated at Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airport that he would raise the issue of Armenian prisoners during his visit to Baku.

According to Sahakyan, while the final decision lies with the Azerbaijani authorities, the United States possesses diplomatic leverage that could realistically influence outcomes. She also emphasized Armenia’s role as the demanding party in efforts to secure the return of its citizens.

“The issue must be addressed within the framework of serious discussions tied to the state’s obligation to repatriate its citizens,” Sahakyan said, adding that broad public debates are of limited practical value until negotiations reach a critical decision-making stage.

She positively assessed the unified stance adopted by Armenian human rights organizations and civil society groups during the visit, noting that they explicitly linked the release of prisoners to the peace process and framed it as a key confidence-building measure. These groups, she said, clearly appealed to the U.S. administration to play an active role in resolving the issue.

Sahakyan noted that it was significant to hear a public commitment that the matter would be raised in Baku, even if no concrete promises were made. She suggested that discussions would likely extend beyond Azerbaijani officials to include U.S. decision-makers, potentially creating conditions for a resolution that would allow the prisoners’ return in the near term.

Addressing criticism that the prisoner issue was not publicly raised during official meetings in Yerevan, Sahakyan said the U.S. vice president could not credibly make a public promise without prior coordination among all parties. Doing so, she warned, could undermine the credibility of the office if not followed by tangible steps.

Asked whether U.S.-mediated efforts could realistically lead to the release of Armenian prisoners, Sahakyan responded affirmatively, describing the visit as an important opportunity to advance the issue through diplomatic engagement.

Vance reiterated before departing for Baku that he would raise the matter of Armenian prisoners with Azerbaijani authorities.