Handover of four Armenian prisoners inspires hope - human rights activist
ArmInfo. The transfer of Syrian mercenaries and the return of Armenian prisoners occurred simultaneously, and this is open to different interpretations. In any case, this is an extremely important process, and we welcome the return of every Armenian-there can be no other opinion. Siranush Sahakyan, head of the Center for International and Comparative Law and representative of Armenian prisoners at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), stated this during a press conference on January 17.
Recalling that the last time prisoners were returned to the Armenian side was in December 2023, she noted that the process has, so to speak, been frozen since then. The human rights activist also noted that after the preliminary signing of the peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan, it was expected that a larger number of prisoners would be returned to the Armenian side. Nevertheless, the return of four of our citizens, according to Sahakyan, inspires hope that the process can continue.
According to the human rights activist, cooperation between the Civil Society Institute and the country's authorities is essential to increasing the effectiveness of the prisoner return process. "I believe that the return of prisoners, even if it occurs outside the legal framework, is only possible with the involvement of government officials. Without them, the issue reaches a dead end. The state must achieve results through negotiations, and the Civil Society Institute must draw the attention of the international community to the situation so that additional pressure can be exerted on Azerbaijan. Cooperation is the best model by which we can ensure the return of our prisoners," she emphasized.
Responding to a question regarding the ECHR cases regarding violations of the rights of Armenian prisoners and whether they would continue, Sahakyan expressed the opinion that it would be right and fair to continue these processes. However, in her opinion, everything here depends on the position of the Armenian authorities - whether they will be consistent in this matter or not.
As a reminder, on January 14, 2026, Azerbaijan released four illegally held Armenian prisoners in exchange for two Syrian mercenaries fighting on the Azerbaijani side during the 2020 war unleashed by the Azerbaijani-Turkish tandem against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.
Vagif Khachatryan had been in detention since 2023, after being abducted by Azerbaijani forces during a medical evacuation from Nagorno-Karabakh as part of an ICRC mission. Vigen Euljekjian, a Lebanese citizen, had been held by Azerbaijan since 2020, having been captured after the 2020 ceasefire while transiting the Lachin corridor. Gevorg Sujian and Davit Davtyan were captured by Azerbaijani forces the day after the signing of the ceasefire agreement ending the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War. Both were civilians and founders of a charitable NGO.
In exchange, Armenia released two Syrian mercenaries, Mukhrab Muhammad al-Shkheri and Yousef Alabed al-Hajin, who had been captured by Armenian forces in November 2020. Both confessed to serving as mercenaries during their trial and were sentenced to life imprisonment by an Armenian court in 2021 for crimes committed against Artsakh civilians. At the time, the mercenaries testified that they were ordered to spare no life and were given clear instructions and material rewards for the beheading of Armenian prisoners.
At least nineteen Armenian prisoners of war remain in illegal detention in Azerbaijan, where they continue to be subjected to torture and abuse. They include eight former Nagorno-Karabakh officials: former State Minister (2022-2023) Ruben Vardanyan; former President (2020-2023) Arayik Harutyunyan; former President (2007-2020) Bako Sahakyan; former President (1997-2007) Arkady Ghukasyan; Speaker of the National Assembly Davit Ishkhanyan; former Foreign Minister Davit Babayan; former Defense Minister Levon Mnatsakanyan; and former Deputy Defense Minister Davit Manukyan.
