The European Parliament has adopted a resolution calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan, condemning their “unjust detention”. The resolution also reaffirms the right of Armenians from the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) to a safe, unimpeded, and dignified return, with guarantees for their identity, property, and cultural heritage.
It further calls for accountability for the destruction of Armenian cultural and religious heritage and supports the deployment of an international assessment mission. Adopted with a strong majority, the resolution reflects continued European concern over human rights violations, even as Azerbaijan threatens to suspend relations with the European Parliament.
The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) issued a statement welcoming the resolution, highlighting it “condemns the unjust detention of Armenian POWs and hostages, demanding their immediate release” and “calls for a safe, unimpeded, and dignified return for Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians under international guarantees”.
“Armenia’s future can and will only be determined by the Armenian people through the unimpeded exercise of their democratic rights; no foreign actor, especially Azerbaijan and Turkey, should be allowed to intervene in the internal dynamics of the Armenian Republic…It is imperative that the European Commission acts on the mandate which the European Parliament consistently provides on holding Azerbaijan accountable for its crimes”, said Kaspar Karampetian, EAFJD President.
