Catholicos Garegin II calls for release of all prisoners kept in Baku 

ArmInfo. Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II responded to the transfer of four prisoners of war by Azerbaijan to Armenia, calling for the release of all Armenian prisoners of war held in Baku on trumped-up charges.

According to the press office of the Mother See of Etchmiadzin, the  Catholicos called the news of the return of Gevorg Sujyan, David  Davtyan, Vigen Euljekchyan, and Vagif Khachatryan to their homeland a  joy and consolation.

"We wish that, with the blessing of God and the support of our entire  people, they will restore their peaceful and normal lives together  with their families and loved ones. We pray that all Armenian  prisoners of war will return to their homeland as soon and safely as  possible. May God preserve peace throughout the world, our homeland,  and all our people," Garegin II stated. Let us recall that on January  14, 2026, Azerbaijan released four illegally held Armenian prisoners  in exchange for two Syrian mercenaries participating in hostilities  on the side of Azerbaijan during the 2020 war unleashed by the  Azerbaijani- Turkish tandem against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.

Vagif Khachatryan had been held in custody since 2023, after being  abducted by Azerbaijani forces during a medical evacuation from  Nagorno-Karabakh as part of an ICRC mission. Vigen Euljekjian, a  Lebanese citizen, had been held by Azerbaijan since 2020, having been  captured after the 2020 ceasefire while transiting the Lachin  corridor. Gevorg Sujyan and Davit Davtyan were captured by  Azerbaijani forces the day after the signing of the ceasefire  agreement ending the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War. Both were civilians  and founders of a charitable NGO. In exchange, Armenia released two  Syrian mercenaries, Mukhrab Muhammad al-Shkheri and Yousef Alabed  al-Hajin, who had been captured by Armenian forces in November 2020.  Both confessed to serving as mercenaries during their trial and were  sentenced to life imprisonment by an Armenian court in 2021 for  crimes committed against Artsakh civilians. At the time, the  mercenaries testified that they were ordered to spare no life and  were given clear instructions and material rewards for the beheadings  of Armenian prisoners.

At least nineteen Armenian prisoners of war remain illegally detained  in Azerbaijan, where they continue to be subjected to torture and  abuse. They include eight former Nagorno-Karabakh officials: former  State Minister (2022-2023) Ruben Vardanyan; former President  (2020-2023) Arayik Harutyunyan; former President (2007-2020) Bako  Sahakyan; former President (1997-2007) Arkady Ghukasyan; Speaker of  the National Assembly David Ishkhanyan; former Foreign Minister David  Babayan; former Defense Minister Levon Mnatsakanyan; and former  Deputy Defense Minister David Manukyan.