Aliyev’s repressions against Armenian prisoners and his own people were revealed at COP29 — Elizabeth Chouldjian

The Armenian National Committee did its best to ensure that the issue of the return of Armenian prisoners drew the attention of the whole world during COP29, ANCA Communications Director Elizabeth Chouldjian told Alpha News.

“Baku’s attempt to present its requests in a false environmental, positive light had the opposite effect, exposing the corruption of the Aliyev regime, the ongoing attacks on Artsakh, Armenia, and repression not only against its own people but also at least 23 Armenian prisoners. These people, including the leadership of Artsakh, continue to suffer in Azerbaijani prisons. And the Armenian National Committee, working with human rights organizations, did its best to bring this topic to the attention of all parts of the world at COP29,” Chouldjian said.

Speaking about the recent work done by the Armenian National Committee of America, she stressed that ANCA has been working with US Senator Ed Markey and Congressman Frank Pallone in recent days, as a result of which more than 60 congress members appealed to the US Department of State to put pressure on Azerbaijan within the framework of COP29 and release Armenian prisoners, among whom are the leaders of Artsakh.

“Along with all this, efforts should also be made to ensure that the ethnically cleansed people of Artsakh have the opportunity to return to their historical lands. However, instead of all this, the Azerbaijani government continues to threaten Armenia.

This issue should have been raised at COP29. We saw that such protest calls were made. For example, France has clearly expressed its position on the Artsakh issue, on environmental issues, as well as on the threats voiced by the Azerbaijani government. Germany also addressed the issue. The European Parliament presented its clear demands and expectations to Azerbaijan as well,” she said.