Armenians Protest During Vice President Vance’s Visit, Call for Release of POWs in Azerbaijan

As U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance arrived in Armenia for an official visit and held talks with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, demonstrators gathered outside three different locations in Yerevan to demand the release of Armenian detainees held in Azerbaijan. Many of the protesters were forcibly displaced Armenians from Artsakh, emphasizing that their appeals stem from a lack of confidence in Armenia’s authorities.

Former Artsakh human rights defender Artak Beglaryan told The Armenian Report that, although they regularly request Armenian authorities to make the release of hostages a precondition in negotiations, they no longer have sufficient hope or trust in them.

Beglaryan said protesters were appealing directly to Washington, urging U.S. officials to intervene during Vance’s visit to the region. He said demonstrators were calling for the release of 19 Armenians held in Azerbaijani prisons and argued that their continued detention undermines prospects for peace.

“The overwhelming majority of the Armenian people will see no sign of trust or peace if the hostages are not released,” Beglaryan said, adding that protesters view the vice president’s trip as a potential opportunity to secure their return.

Regional analyst Tatevik Hayrapetyan also emphasized the importance of U.S. involvement, saying Washington plays a significant role in mediating tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan and in preventing further escalation.

Hayrapetyan said the United States should take concrete steps during the visit to Baku to push for the detainees’ release, arguing that peace efforts cannot succeed while Armenians remain imprisoned. She referenced previous comments by former U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev would be open to dialogue if contacted by Washington.

Another protest participant, Mane Tandilyan, linked the release of detainees directly to the peace process, saying demonstrators wanted Vance to convey that message during his meetings in Azerbaijan.

“There can be no peace without the hostages returning,” Tandilyan said. She described the trials of Armenians held in Baku as illegitimate and criticized the absence of international observers, saying those detained were involved in Artsakh’s self-determination efforts.

The protests continued alongside Vance’s meetings in Yerevan. Demonstrators said they plan to maintain pressure on international actors until all Armenian detainees are released, citing a lack of confidence in domestic authorities as the reason for seeking foreign mediation.

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