Archbishop: Armenian prisoners held in Baku 'a stark reminder of our helplessness'

Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, the leader of the Holy Struggle movement, addressed the unlawful detention of Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan in his weekly video message on Saturday.

"Ruben Vardanyan and other Armenian prisoners of war held in Baku’s jails are a stark reminder of our helplessness and shame. By and large, we ourselves are in captivity," he said.

"We are captives because, as a society, we feel helpless, unable to take effective action. Our efforts, thoughts and aspirations are all imprisoned in this regard. The ultimate responsibility for the current situation lies with the government of evil.

"We are in prison, facing distress and oppression. But I am convinced that the day will come when we will bring our prisoners back home. Until then, we must raise our voices and contribute in any way we can to their release," Galstanyan stated.