ICRC ready to act as intermediary for visits to Armenian hostages held in Azerbaijan

(Horizon Media / YEREVAN) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is prepared to act as a neutral intermediary to facilitate visits to Armenian hostages detained in Azerbaijan, provided that a formal request is made and the matter is agreed upon with the parties involved.

Zara Amatuni, head of communications and public relations at the ICRC delegation in Armenia, said the organization remains ready to provide its humanitarian services within the framework of its mandate.

“If a request is made and an agreement is reached with the parties involved, the ICRC is ready, within its mandate, to act as a neutral intermediary,” Amatuni said.

She added that the ICRC continues its dialogue with Azerbaijani authorities on humanitarian issues, particularly matters concerning missing persons and individuals in detention. Since the ICRC no longer maintains a delegation in Azerbaijan, those discussions are currently being conducted through the organization’s headquarters.

According to official figures, 19 Armenians remain detained in Azerbaijan, including former political and military leaders of Artsakh.

A court in Baku handed down sentences on February 5 in the case involving several former Artsakh officials. Former Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan, former National Assembly Speaker Davit Ishkhanyan, former Defense Army commander Levon Mnatsakanyan and former deputy commander Davit Manukyan were sentenced to life imprisonment. Former presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan received 20-year prison terms.

Several other Armenian hostages received sentences ranging from 15 to 19 years.

Former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan was tried separately and sentenced on February 17 to 20 years in prison. In late April, he and other Armenian detainees were transferred to the Umbaki prison complex in Baku’s Garadagh district.