French Bouches-du-Rhone department head urges Paris to end silence on Armenian prisoners of war
ArmInfo. Martin Vassal, Chairperson of the Bouches-du- Rhone department, has called on the French authorities not to remain silent on the issue of the release of Armenian detainees held in Baku, as reported by the press service of the Artsakh Union, which distributed an article written by Vassal on the occasion of Christmas celebrations in Armenia.
In hҐr letter, she highlights the fact that for many Armenian families in Armenia and Artsakh, the joy of reunification this year is not complete. She recalled that for over two years, Armenian prisoners of war have been held in Azerbaijani prisons by the authoritarian administration of Azerbaijan. She also noted that in a few weeks, the French National Assembly will consider a proposal for a cross-party resolution calling for the release of Armenian prisoners of war. “Although our country is currently experiencing a period of uncertainty, and its cities are facing growing challenges, it still cannot ignore its moral responsibilities. This issue is neither remote nor secondary. It is linked to the values that define us: justice, human dignity, and the rule of law,” the chairperson of the French departmental council noted.
She recalled that the trials of Armenian prisoners of war are taking place in opaque conditions without any real guarantees of a fair trial. “These people are not criminals. They are being tried for embodying political will, for serving a people who were first expelled from their land and then deprived of their right to vote. Any honest observer knows that Azerbaijan has many political prisoners, freedom of speech is suppressed, and justice is a political tool,” she emphasized.
Vassal noted that this situation has been documented in numerous international reports, including those of the UN and European organizations. Therefore, she stated that the Armenian captives are doubly held hostage. “They are hostages in the hands of an administration that is exploiting their fate in negotiations with Armenia. They are also hostages because of the stance of certain European partners, who are willing to condemn crimes of aggression elsewhere but remain silent when it comes to their energy partner,” the departmental council president lamented. Given all of the above, she called on local French authorities to speak out. “France is committed to defending the universality of human rights. The two institutions I chair have already condemned this situation and initiated the adoption of relevant decisions. However, today we must go even further, because the (Artsakh – ed.) families who were forcibly displaced now live alongside us. The values we proclaim – solidarity, humanism, non-hatred – are only meaningful if they also apply to the Armenians held in Baku,” Vassal emphasized.
She also announced her intention to make two clear commitments: to continue the fight for the release of Armenian prisoners of war by appealing to the French authorities and supporting the France-Artsakh Friendship Circle, and to invite the Bouches-du-Rhone Departmental Council to join the call for their release with a public statement. “Every prisoner has a family waiting for them. I met them during my last visit to Armenia. They are desperate and hoping for us. Behind every prisoner are also people who feel abandoned and ask us: how far are we willing to go to remain true to the values we ourselves have proclaimed? We cannot celebrate freedom here and remain silent about it there. Armenian prisoners of war are a symbol of the fragility of the law. It’s up to us to decide which side of history we want to stand on,” Vassal concluded.
