Disruption of POWs' return sparks protests in Yerevan

Relatives of the Armenian prisoners of war (POWs), who on April 8 failed to welcome the return of another group of soldiers from Azerbaijan at the airport, joined the protesters outside the building of the Armenian Ministry of Defence (MoD).

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that after the ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh reached in November 2020, protests began in Armenia; some of them are held by relatives of missing soldiers. On April 7, activists of the "Veto" movement accused Armenian authorities of a pro-Turkish policy and concealment of data about combat losses and POWs.

On April 8, having learned about the return of a group of POWs from Baku, their relatives gathered at the airport. Some time later, one of the parents announced on air of the "Azatutyun" Radio that the plane had landed in Yerevan empty.

The office of Tigran Avinyan, an Armenian Vice-Premier, announced that "the return of POWs is being delayed."

A group of 22-23 POWs was to return to Yerevan, said Naira Zograbyan, an MP from the "Prosperous Armenia" faction.

Srbui Grigoryan, an MP from the "Enlightened Armenia" faction, said that Azerbaijan was supposed to return about 15 POWs today, but "refused at the last moment."