Armenian FM says no progress yet on prisoners held in Baku

Armenia continues talks with Azerbaijan over the release of prisoners held in Baku, but no breakthrough has yet been achieved, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said on Friday.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, Mirzoyan said peace between the two countries was taking root but remained fragile and required careful nurturing. He pointed to growing bilateral trade and the transit of goods through Azerbaijan as signs of progress.

“The issue of prisoners is the most sensitive for our society. Unfortunately, there are still Armenian prisoners of war and other detainees held in Baku, and they must be released as soon as possible,” Mirzoyan said.

He stated that their release would strengthen the peace process and confirmed Armenia was raising the matter both in direct talks with Azerbaijan and with international partners.

Mirzoyan stressed that while many issues had been resolved, the fate of detainees remained at the top of Armenia’s agenda.