French Government Calls for the Release of All Arbitrarily Detained Prisoners in Azerbaijan
During a debate in the French Senate, Senator Marie-Arlette Carlotti raised the issue of Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan and called for stronger European action to ensure their release. The French government reaffirmed its support for the prisoners and described the issue as a prerequisite for lasting peace in the South Caucasus.
During a session of the French Senate, Senator Marie-Arlette Carlotti questioned the government about its support for Armenian refugees displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh and the fate of Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan.
Carlotti noted that more than three years after Azerbaijan’s military offensive, over 100,000 Armenian refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh remain displaced, many still struggling to secure permanent housing and employment. She asked the government to clarify how much of the €32 million in French assistance announced for refugees had actually been disbursed, how the funds had been used, and what additional resources were planned for 2027.
Turning to Armenian prisoners, the senator recalled that on February 5, 2026, the Baku Military Court sentenced 15 Armenians, five of them to life imprisonment. Several days later, Ruben Vardanyan was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Carlotti cited concerns raised by Amnesty International over serious violations of fair trial guarantees and by Human Rights Watch regarding restrictions on medical care and family contact.
She also asked how France intended to implement the strategic partnership signed with Armenia in May 2026 and what initiatives it was pursuing with European partners to ensure that the peace process addressed the release of Armenian detainees and the rights of displaced persons, including their right to return.
Responding on behalf of the French government, Nicolas Forissier, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, reaffirmed France’s commitment to international law and international humanitarian law.
He recalled that France had condemned Azerbaijan’s military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh and expressed regret over the departure of almost the entire Armenian population of the region.
Forissier also emphasized France’s support for the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice on November 17, 2023, stating that those wishing to return to their places of origin must be able to do so freely and safely.
Addressing the issue of Armenian prisoners, the minister said that France was closely monitoring judicial proceedings and calling for respect for fundamental legal guarantees.
He welcomed the transfer of four Armenian prisoners to Armenia on January 14, 2026, and reiterated France’s call for the release of all arbitrarily detained persons.
The minister stressed that outstanding humanitarian issues must be addressed as part of the normalization process between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
“The issue of prisoners is a prerequisite,” Forissier stated, emphasizing that progress toward normalization offers an opportunity to establish lasting peace in the South Caucasus.
The exchange in the French Senate highlighted the continued importance of the Armenian prisoners’ release, the protection of displaced Armenians’ rights, and humanitarian obligations in the context of ongoing efforts to normalize relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The video recording of the Senate session is available below in French.
