We strongly condemn the arrests of the leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh. Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Araik Harutyunyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, Ruben Vardanyan, and others by Azerbaijan.

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

The Republic of Armenia has repeatedly, including on September 23 from the platform of the UN General Assembly, raised the need to guarantee the exclusion of such actions. On September 28, the Republic of Armenia applied to the International Court of Justice of the United Nations to apply a temporary measure in the case of Armenia v. Azerbaijan under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, demanding Azerbaijan to refrain from punitive actions against the current or former leadership or the military of Nagorno Karabakh.

The Republic of Armenia will take all possible steps to protect the rights of illegally arrested representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh, including in international courts.

We also call on international partners to follow up on all their messages addressed to Azerbaijan regarding the protection of the rights and security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and to address the issue both in the sphere of bilateral relations with Azerbaijan and in various international instances.