10 Armenians who had remained in Artsakh, along with one citizen of Armenia of Russian nationality, have now been transferred to Armenia.
According to Armenia’s Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Arsen Torosyan, the remaining Armenians formally appealed to the relevant authorities of Azerbaijan and Armenia to be transferred, after which they were relocated to the Republic of Armenia.
Following the 10-month blockade of Artsakh that began in December 2022 and the subsequent ethnic cleansing carried out by Azerbaijan, these Armenians had remained behind for various reasons, including age, illness, isolation, and an unwillingness to leave their homes. Remaining in Artsakh carried serious risks.
Just three weeks ago, an Azerbaijani “court” sentenced Karen Avanesyan, an Armenian who had remained in Stepanakert after the forced displacement, to 16 years in prison on fabricated charges. His case demonstrated the reality faced by Armenians who stayed behind: arbitrary detention, criminalization, and the use of the judicial system as a tool of intimidation. According to multiple sources, Avanesyan had mental health issues.
