An audio recording of Armenian hostage Maj. Gen. Davit Manukyan, who is being illegally held by Azerbaijan, has been released, marking his first publicly released statement since he was taken hostage during Azerbaijan’s September 2023 takeover of Artsakh.

The former First Deputy Commander of the Artsakh Defense Army is among 15 Armenian hostages appealing their convictions before the Baku Court of Appeal. He was taken hostage alongside Ruben Vardanyan and other Armenian political and military leaders during Azerbaijan’s September 2023 takeover of Artsakh.

In his statement, Manukyan argues that the proceedings are not directed solely against the 15 Armenian hostages, but against “the past and present of the Armenian people,” saying the charges seek to criminalize Armenian history by tracing alleged responsibility back to the beginning of the last century.

He says he and the other Armenian hostages continue to challenge what he describes as fabricated charges, defending not only their own rights but also “the dignity of the Armenian people and Armenian statehood.”

Addressing Nikol Vova Pashinyan directly, Manukyan calls on him to publicly state his position on Azerbaijan’s accusation that Armenia planned, prepared, and waged an aggressive war in September 2020. He argues that, as Armenia’s leader and commander-in-chief at the time, Pashinyan has a responsibility to respond publicly. According to Manukyan, remaining silent would amount to accepting Azerbaijan’s allegations and would implicate not only Pashinyan, but the Armenian people as a whole.

Manukyan also calls on the Republic of Armenia to clarify its official position regarding the status of the Armenians imprisoned in Baku. He concludes with one of the strongest lines of his statement: “Those imprisoned here do not feel the presence of the Republic of Armenia.”

He adds that time constraints prevented him from speaking at greater length.

 The full statement:

“Dear compatriots,

I hope you are at least partly aware that appeal hearings are continuing before the Baku Court of Appeal in the case of 15 citizens of the Republic of Armenia.

I want to emphasize that these proceedings are not directed only against these 15 individuals. They are directed against the past and present of the Armenian people, as the indictment and verdict portray Armenian history itself as criminal, beginning from the early years of the last century.

My colleagues and I continue our fight for justice against these fabricated and false charges. We will not allow our rights, or the dignity of the Armenian people and Armenian statehood, to be trampled.

At this moment, I wish to address Nikol Vova Pashinyan, a citizen of the Republic of Armenia, regarding one of the fabricated charges brought against us.

Under Articles 100.1 and 100.2 of Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code, we are accused of planning, preparing, and waging an aggressive war in September 2020. This is despite the undeniable evidence and facts we have presented to the court, and despite the fact that the events unfolded in full view of the international community.

Nevertheless, as you were serving as Armenia’s prime minister and Commander-in-Chief at the time, and since the planning of a war begins at that level, I urge you to publicly state your position on these specific accusations.

If you choose not to respond, it will mean that you accept these fabricated charges, thereby implicating not only yourself, but the entire Armenian people.

I hope you have not forgotten the title that once appeared on your military cap.

I also expect to learn the official position of the Republic of Armenia regarding the status of those of us being held here.

It is also painful that those of us here do not feel that the Republic of Armenia stands behind us. But this is the reality.

Because of time constraints, I will conclude my remarks here.

For now.”