Azerbaijan Releases 17 Armenian Soldiers Through US Mediation
On October 4, Azerbaijan released 17 Armenian soldiers, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia reported. The release of the Armenian prisoners took place with the mediation of the American side.
The Ministry of Defense of Armenia also listed the names of the released servicemen:
1. Mkrtchyan Shagen Hovhannesovich
2. Jilavyan Karen Sarkisovich
3. Karapetyan Erik Garikovich
4. Karapetyan Sasun Grachikovich
5. Oveyan Mesrop Arturovich
6. Mkhitaryan Vrezh Gorovich
7. Karapetyan David Armenovich
8. Gevorkyan Rafael Aramovich
9. Faroyan Alexan Surikovich
10. Kubatyan Hrachya Edwardovich
11. Gizhlaryan Vahe Artakovich
12. Yeganyan Kajik Aramaisovich
13. Shahinyan Tigran Edgarovich
14. Grigoryan Serezha Abramovich
15. Etumyan Vahagn Albertovich
16. Khachatryan Gor Aramovich
17. Sayadyan Henrik Karenovich.
At the same time, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has not yet commented on this information [October 9, 18:00 CET].
Moreover, Jake Sullivan, the National Security Adviser of the US President, said that the United States welcomes the handover of 17 Armenian service members from Azerbaijan to Armenia. Jake Sullivan wrote on his Twitter page, "The United States continues to support efforts to reach a lasting peace agreement."
Armen Grigoryan, the Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council, and Hikmet Hajiyev, foreign policy adviser to Azerbaijan’s President, agreed to return the POWs by September 30 during their meeting with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Washington on September 17, according to Grigoryan. One day before the soldiers’ release, Grigoryan said Azerbaijan had not upheld its pledge to release the POWs. "Let me make it clear that, once again, Azerbaijan has not fulfilled its commitments," Grigoryan said.