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“In the context of the broader situation in the South Caucasus, this is the Secretary of State [of state] And the department will continue to be deeply involved,” the official, Vedant Patel, told a news conference.
Asked whether Washington was trying to release them or “assist them in any other form,” Patel said: “I have no update on that process.” “And, speaking of detainees, we have been clear and consistent in saying that any country needs to treat all detainees humanely, with dignity and in compliance with international law, and needs to respect the human rights of detainees, including in this case.”
Last December, Azerbaijan released 32 Armenian prisoners, and in return Yerevan freed two imprisoned Azerbaijani soldiers and dropped its opposition to holding the COP29 climate summit in Baku.
The remaining captives include eight former Nagorno-Karabakh political and military leaders. They were arrested after Azerbaijan launched a military offensive in September 2023 to restore Azerbaijan’s control over Karabakh. They have been charged with “terrorism” and other serious crimes and will stand trial. Dates for these trials have not yet been announced.
The Armenian government has repeatedly called for the release of these and other detainees. Domestic critics of the government claim that it has not taken any steps to free them. It is unclear whether the issue is on the agenda of negotiations between Yerevan and Baku on an Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty.
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