Ex-ombudsman: Artsakh leaders imprisoned in Azerbaijan for spearheading national struggle
Artsakh’s former military and political leaders are illegally detained in Azerbaijan for their role in the political and military struggle aimed at defending the Artsakh people’s rights, claims Artak Beglaryan, a former Artsakh ombudsman and state minister.
“Former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan and ex-Presidents Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan and Arayik Harutyunyan, as well as the other leaders held in Baku, have been at the forefront of the political struggle. They are detained in Azerbaijan because they have led our political struggle since the 1990s,” Beglaryan told a press conference on Thursday.
He underlined that the sham prosecution of 16 Armenian prisoners of war continued in Azerbaijan. Beglaryan stated that Armenian humanitarian Ruben Vardanyan was specifically targeted by the Aliyev regime.
“All charges against Artsakh’s military and political leadership are fabricated, primarily focusing on alleged involvement in organizing and financing terrorism. Yet, the struggle of the Artsakh people cannot in any way be characterized as terrorism. The military struggle was aimed at self-defense to safeguard our political, collective and individual rights,” the ex-official underscored.