David Ishkhanyan, speaker of the Artsakh parliament at the time of his capture by Azeri forces in September 2023, is among 20 known Armenian hostages in Baku. Photo: National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh
YEREVAN — Azerbaijani officials told Armenian prisoners in Baku that they would remain in captivity so long as the Armenian government opposed their return, according to David Ishkhanyan, the captive former speaker of the Artsakh Republic (Nagorno Karabakh) parliament.
“There is something I believe the public should understand,” he said in a rare May 28 phone call with his family, relaying a message intended for public dissemination.
“Back in January and February 2024, when we were already here, certain officials interacting with us hinted indirectly that we would remain here as long as Armenia’s authorities wanted us to remain here.
“At first, we could hardly believe such statements. How could our own authorities not want us to return home? But from today’s perspective, unfortunately, everything has become clear,” he said.
There are currently 20 known Armenian nationals being held prisoner in Baku, among them eight statesmen and military officials.
“The developments surrounding this trial are being adjusted to political developments, including those taking place in Armenia itself,” Ishkhanyan assessed.
Azerbaijani forces ethnically cleansed Artsakh of its ancient Armenian Christian population in September 2023, after blockading the region for nine months. The entire Armenian population of 150,000 now live as refugees, mostly in the Republic of Armenia.
Armenian election link
Armenia’s prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, is currently engaged in a heated campaign ahead of June 7 elections.
Pashinyan, who recognized Artsakh as part of Azerbaijan in October 2022, has staked his reelection on a concept called “Real Armenia” and a “peace agenda” with Azerbaijan and Turkey.
This concept has been marked by an aggressive campaign to physically and ideologically cut the Armenian nation from foundational pillars of identity.
Causes ranging from recognition and reparations for the Armenian Genocide, to the longstanding fight for self-determination — and now the right of return — for the people of Artsakh, are regarded as threats to “peace” at the state level.
On the campaign trail, Pashinyan has threatened to kill political rivals who oppose his vision, physically accosted a female doctor whose brother went missing during the 2020 Artsakh war, and screamed “Why didn’t you die!” at an Artsakh refugee who challenged him.
Struggle for self-determination continues
Ishkhanyan, despite coming to the conclusion that the Azerbaijani officials had been truthful, said that he and his fellow captives had not given up their faith or lost their resolve.
“We have now been here for nearly three years. During all this time, neither our principles, nor our reason, nor our spirit, nor our willpower have abandoned us. And they will not abandon us going forward,” he said.
“As painful as this reality is, we will continue following the path we have collectively chosen,” he said, meaning the struggle for Artsakh’s self-determination.
The Artsakh government continues to function in exile at the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Artsakh in Yerevan.
A delegation of the Artsakh parliament, led by Acting President Ashot Danielyan, visited Switzerland on April 29-May 1 to meet with members of the Swiss legislature.
Christian Solidarity International took part in these meetings, as did the Committee for the Protection of the Fundamental Rights of the People of Nagorno Karabakh.
The Swiss Peace Initiative for Nagorno Karabakh, a motion that mandates the Swiss government to convene a peace platform between representatives of the people of Artsakh and Azerbaijan, topped the agenda.
Its key goal is to support a dignified and safe right of return for the people of Artsakh, and it is supported by a broad cross-section of Armenian political parties in the run-up to elections on June 7.
The most notable exception is the incumbent Armenian administration, which CSI learned informed Swiss officials that it opposes the peace initiative.
