Azerbaijan-EU Clash Over Armenian Prisoners Sparks Diplomatic Tensions

Azerbaijan summoned the EU ambassador to protest a resolution condemning the detention of Armenian POWs and backing Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians' rights. The resolution demands immediate release of detainees and highlights destruction of Armenian heritage. Azerbaijan dismisses the resolution, citing voluntary departure of Karabakh Armenians, labeling prisoners as criminals.

Azerbaijan summoned the European Union's ambassador on Friday in response to an EU resolution condemning the detention of Armenian prisoners of war and supporting rights in Nagorno-Karabakh. The resolution criticizes what it terms as Azerbaijan's 'unjust detention' and demands immediate release.

The resolution also reiterates EU backing for the rights of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, calling for accountability for the destruction of Armenian cultural and religious heritage. Azerbaijan's foreign ministry criticized the resolution as 'unfounded and biased.'

Baku argues that Karabakh Armenians left voluntarily, asserting that the prisoners labeled as POWs by the EU committed serious crimes, including war crimes. The intricate political history involves two wars, Azerbaijan reclaiming the territory in 2023, and ongoing trials in Baku.