France’s government said on November 12 that resolving the issue of the Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan is a precondition for normalizing relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, reports Zartonk Media.
“Resolving the issue of prisoners is a prerequisite,” said Nicolas Forissier, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Attractiveness, who is attached to France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs. He was answering an oral question in the French Senate from Senator Marie-Arlette Carlotti of Bouches-du-Rhône on support for Armenian refugees and prisoners.
Forissier said unresolved humanitarian issues must be addressed as part of the normalization process between the two countries. He welcomed the return of 4 Armenians on January 14 and called for the release of all those arbitrarily detained in Azerbaijan.
He said France unequivocally condemned Azerbaijan’s military operation in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and regretted the near-total displacement of its Armenian population. He said France has provided substantial humanitarian assista nce to the displaced and that funding would be adjusted to meet their needs.
“Everyone who wishes to return to their places of residence must be able to do so freely and safely,” Forissier said.
He stressed the implementation of the provisional measures the International Court of Justice ordered against Azerbaijan on November 17, 2023. The court ruled 13 to 2 that Azerbaijan must ensure that Armenians who left Artsakh after September 19, 2023 and wish to return can do so in a safe, unimpeded and expeditious manner, that those wishing to leave can do so on the same terms, that those who remain are protected from force or intimidation, and that registration, identity and private property documents are preserved.
Azerbaijan is holding 19 Armenians according to Armenia’s official count, which Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan gave in parliament on October 28.
A Baku military court sentenced 15 of them on February 5. Former Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan, former Defense Army commander Levon Mnatsakanyan, former deputy commander Davit Manukyan, former parliament speaker Davit Ishkhanyan and former foreign minister Davit Babayan received life imprisonment.
Former Presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan received 20 years each, because Azerbaijani law prohibits life imprisonment for people over the age of 65.
Madat Babayan and Melikset Pashayan received 19 years, Garik Martirosyan 18, Davit Alahverdyan and Levon Balayan 16, and Erik Ghazaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan and Vasil Beglaryan 15 years each.
Former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan was sentenced separately on February 17 to 20 years. The Baku Court of Appeals upheld the sentences on August 6.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution on January 29, 2025 calling on Azerbaijan to release the former military and political leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh and all other Armenian prisoners of war.
Point 8 of the November 9, 2020 trilateral statement that ended the 2020 Artsakh war provided for the exchange of prisoners of war and other detained persons. Azerbaijan has not implemented it.
Armenia and Azerbaijan initialed a peace agreement in Washington on August 8, 2025. It remains unsigned, with Azerbaijan conditioning signature on changes to Armenia’s constitution.
