The Armenian authorities are not interested in securing the return of Artsakh’s former political and military leadership held in Azerbaijan, former Artsakh human rights ombudsman Artak Beglaryan claims.
Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Beglaryan described the September 2023 fuel depot explosion in Stepanakert, which killed about 220 people, as part of the genocide and ethnic cleansing of Artsakh Armenians.
He accused Armenia’s government of failing to make sufficient efforts to secure the release of Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan and targeting former Artsakh leaders held there.
“This is additional evidence that the current authorities are, to put it mildly, not interested in their return,” Beglaryan stated.
He also said Artsakh Armenians in Armenia continue to face humanitarian and social challenges, as well as political pressure for speaking out about their rights. He accused the authorities of contributing to anti-Artsakh rhetoric, adding it risks deepening divisions within Armenian society.
