Samvel Karapetyan, the president of the "Strong Armenia" party, stated that the return of all Armenian prisoners and illegally held persons to the homeland should be a priority in the foreign policy agenda of the Armenian authorities:
"On September 2, 1991, the people of Artsakh, based on existing legal, including international legal grounds, exercised the right to self-determination. This process of exercising the right has been repeatedly recorded and assessed by international organizations and observers.
Due to the complete ethnic cleansing of Artsakh and the ethnic cleansing that occurred, the forcibly displaced Armenians of Artsakh continue to face numerous social and economic problems. This indicates serious issues regarding the effectiveness of state policy and social programs in Armenia.
At the same time, the hate speech voiced and encouraged by the authorities is another manifestation of division and polarization in society.
We must ensure the safety, well-being, and dignified life of our compatriots in the Republic of Armenia.
Today, the military and political leadership of Artsakh continues to remain in the prisons of Baku, effectively as hostages.
Glory and honor to all the martyrs for our homeland. May God protect our people and the Armenian world.
