Following the tripartite statement signed by the President of the Russian Federation, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia on November 10, 2020, the Azerbaijani side is committed to ensuring the rights of Armenian servicemen captured during the war. performed the tasks consistently.
The State Commission on Captives, Missing and Hostages has issued a statement in this regard. Information about the captured Armenians was regularly provided to the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Russian Peacekeeping Forces, and some of them were unilaterally released. During their stay in Azerbaijan, these prisoners were provided with the necessary medical care and dignified treatment, provided with the opportunity to communicate with their families and other rights. We have also held talks with the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Russian Peacekeeping Forces and other international organizations, taking all possible measures, focusing on the repatriation of Azerbaijani citizens captured or taken hostage during the war for various reasons.
As a result of negotiations with the participation of international organizations and the Russian Peacekeeping Command, an agreement was reached with the Armenian side on the exchange of prisoners and hostages on the principle of "all for all" and the mutual return of prisoners and hostages began on December 14. In the afternoon, Azerbaijani prisoners and hostages, including Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilgam Askerov, who have been held hostage by Armenians since July 2014, were brought to Baku by plane. After the implementation of appropriate quarantine measures, the released persons will be reunited with their families. The Azerbaijani side will continue to fulfill its obligations to exchange prisoners, hostages and corpses, guided by the principles of humanism.