  121 MEPs sign letter demanding release of Armenian POWs May 4, 2021 - 18:53 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - 121 Members of the European Parliament have signed a letter demanding the release of Armenian prisoners of war, "illegally being held in Azerbaijan for months," MEP François-Xavier Bellamy said on Twitter. Bellamy joined forces with Vice-Chair of the EPP Group in the European Parliament Andrey Kovatchev and MEP Loucas Fourlas to arrange for and send the letter to President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. The 121 MEPs who have signed the letter represent the entire political spectrum, Bellamy wrote. "It is an obligation under international law. An urgency for so many families suffering from this terrible uncertainty. We must act to obtain the freedom of these soldiers kept as hostages," the MEP added. Several dozen Armenian POWs have returned from Azerbaijan so far, although Armenian officials say many more people were being held in Baku. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev claims, however, that persons being kept in Baku are not prisoners of war but “terrorists and saboteurs”. Officials and human rights advocates from the Armenian side, however, maintain Azerbaijan is still holding hundreds of people hostage, pledging to submit evidence proving the capture of said persons to international agencies and courts.   Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says.   Partner news |  Latest news Armenia-Azerbaijan: Experts launch work on determining coordinates  Expert groups from the countries started the process of determining the coordinates based on geodetic measurements.Yerevan says did not expect CSTO in peacekeeping role Pashinyan has declared that the CSTO would be expected to come to the Armenia-Azerbaijan border as an ally of ArmeniaHenrikh Mkhitaryan wins Serie A title with Inter Inter Milan midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan admits that the team have long been imagining clinching Serie A against AC Milan.Armenia not going to war over Karabakh, says Pashinyan Armenia is not preparing to fight a war for Nagorno Karabakh, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview. |
