His Holiness Karekin II raises Armenian prisoner issue in Switzerland

At the initiative of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and at the proposal of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the World Council of Churches has organized an international conference in Switzerland entitled “Religious Freedom: Preservation of the Armenian Spiritual, Cultural, and Historical Heritage in Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh.”

In his address at the conference, His Holiness Karekin II strongly criticized Azerbaijan’s actions.

The Catholicos noted that "with military support from Turkey, Azerbaijan has not only completely depopulated Artsakh of its Armenian population but also continues to make new demands in the peace treaty negotiations."

He called the attention of the international community to the fact that Azerbaijan is holding former political leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh, civilians, and prisoners of war as hostages and subjecting them to sham trials marked by blatant violations of international law.

His Holiness stressed that these actions stem from the anti-Armenian policy, aimed at erasing the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Armenian people.

“The ancient churches and monasteries of Nagorno-Karabakh are being declared Albanian, their true identity distorted, and numerous sanctuaries, settlements, and cemeteries subjected to barbaric destruction,” he stated.

The Catholicos also recalled: "Armenians in Artsakh have, for centuries, created a rich and valuable culture in their homeland, contributing to the heritage of all humanity."

He emphasized that today, more than ever, preserving the spiritual and cultural heritage of Nagorno-Karabakh is a necessity.

The Secretary General of the World Council of Churches highlighted at the conference that Christians are called to be witnesses to the truth, to stand with the victims, and to speak out against evil.

The conference aims to raise international awareness of the need to preserve the religious and cultural heritage of Nagorno-Karabakh.