Pan.am

Full reconciliation between Armenia and Azerbaijan is impossible without resolving the issues of prisoners, missing persons and other humanitarian concerns, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has said.

Speaking during parliamentary discussions on the draft 2027 state budget, Mirzoyan made the remarks in response to a question from Syuzanna Avetisyan, an MP representing the Strong Armenia faction, Auroranews.am reports.

According to the minister, the fate of Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan and missing persons must be addressed as part of efforts to strengthen and institutionalize peace between the two countries.

Mirzoyan stressed that signing a peace agreement and establishing bilateral cooperation would not, in themselves, complete the reconciliation process. He said peace must be followed by a prolonged period of reconciliation, with the comprehensive resolution of humanitarian issues among its essential components.

Several former Nagorno-Karabakh officials have received prison sentences in Azerbaijan.

Former Nagorno-Karabakh President Arayik Harutyunyan, former Defense Army commander Levon Mnatsakanyan, former deputy commander Davit Manukyan, former Foreign Minister Davit Babayan and former parliamentary speaker Davit Ishkhanyan have been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Former presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan, along with former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, have received 20-year prison sentences.

Madat Babayan and Melikset Pashayan have been sentenced to 19 years, Garik Martirosyan to 18 years, Davit Alaverdyan and Levon Balayan to 16 years, and Erik Ghazaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan and Vasil Beglaryan to 15 years in prison.