On October 4, the Armenian Foreign Ministry reported that Armenia strongly condemns the arrests by Azerbaijan of the leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arayik Harutyunyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Ruben Vardanyan and others.

"Despite the dialogue with the representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh, the statements of high-ranking officials of Azerbaijan regarding the willingness to respect and protect the rights of Armenians, not to hinder their return to Nagorno-Karabakh, and on the establishment of peace in the region, the law enforcement bodies of Azerbaijan continue arbitrary arrests," it added.

"The Republic of Armenia will take all possible steps to protect the rights of illegally detained representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh, including in international courts. We also call on international partners to be consistent in all their messages and appeals addressed to Azerbaijan on the protection of the rights and security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and to address the issue both on a bilateral level with Azerbaijan and various international platforms," the information said.

On the same day, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported that Azerbaijan strongly condemns the statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia.

"The mentioned statement demonstrates that Armenia has not given up its aggressive policy and actions against Azerbaijan for decades. This statement is also an attempt to justify the actions committed by the arrested persons. The arrest of the persons mentioned within the framework of the criminal case initiated by the relevant articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan for aggression against Azerbaijan, promotion of separatism, acts of terrorism, committing crimes against peace and humanity, war and other serious crimes against captured military personnel and civilians, and other facts serves and questioning the legitimacy of these steps is unacceptable," the report added.

"Instead of encouraging the return of Armenian residents who voluntarily went to Armenia from the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, this statement, aimed at creating anxiety among them and instilling racial and ethnic hatred against Azerbaijan, is part of Armenia's destructive activities that hinder peace efforts," the ministry said.