"Hraparak" newspaper wrote:
COP-29, the 29th conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, will take place in Baku on November 11-24. Let's remind that Baku got this opportunity thanks to the official support of Yerevan, which refused its bid 3 months after the depopulation of Artsakh. During those days, 32 Armenian prisoners returned to Armenia. Around 70-80 thousand guests from dozens of countries, companies, and scientific organizations are expected at COP-29. It is the most important platform to raise the issue of illegal detention of Armenian prisoners. President of the International and Comparative Law Center, Siranush Sahakyan, referring to the issue of Armenian prisoners, said that the problem is not only in the domain of Azerbaijan. "The capture and subsequent hostage-taking of foreign citizens is also a matter regulated by international law, and, fortunately, there are also international mechanisms that control the practices of national authorities from the perspective of human rights. Here, one can say, all possible mechanisms have been activated, the problem is mostly political," he said. Azerbaijan, taking advantage of its economic situation and geopolitical positions that coincide with its interests, tries to ignore international law and does not ensure the observance of humanitarian and human rights agreements. is to generate stronger political pressure, which will become a big factor for Azerbaijan, and we will have a change in behavior. There are no major developments in legal proceedings in these months, but the main developments coincide with the COP-29 event. Although the event is environmental, the element of human rights is being discussed," said Sahakyan. And the Armenian side, the public sector, public bodies should make all diplomatic efforts to ensure the release of the prisoners. "I think that Azerbaijan does not discuss the issue of the release of the former leadership of Artsakh in any way, even in the context of COP-29, we can have some realistic hopes regarding the release of those captured as a result of the aggression of 2023. But the work must be carried out, even if it does not give results in the context of COP-29, processes can be set in motion and lead to a positive result at a later stage," Sahakyan stressed. He sees more activity on the part of public structures dealing with human rights issues and human rights defenders. And the official Yerevan does not make such demands. Former Minister of Justice Artak Zeynalyan, answering the question that although the Armenian side will not participate in COP-29, what can be done about the prisoners, he said: "I have to assume that efforts are being made in that direction, and I think we will see it."
