07:41     18 December 2023    

Two Azerbaijani servicemen, Agshin Babirov and Huseyn Akhundov, who were captured by the Armed Forces of Armenia in April this year, have finally reunited with their families. Their release became possible thanks to successful negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which led to the exchange of prisoners of war on a mutual basis. This exchange of servicemen, which took place on December 13 at the Azerbaijani-Armenian border in the Gazakh region, was organized following negotiations conducted between the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia. As a result of these negotiations, Azerbaijan released 32 Armenian servicemen, while Armenia released two Azerbaijani servicemen. These two soldiers, Agshin Babirov and Huseyn Akhundov, were captured in April this year due to poor weather conditions, leading to limited visibility in the border territory of the Shahbuz district of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, bordering Armenia. Their return home after a long captivity undoubtedly brought a sense of relief and joy to both their families and the entire Azerbaijani people, highlighting the importance of diplomatic efforts and peaceful conflict resolution. By the way, before the release, H. Akhundov, accused of murdering a guard at the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine and originally sentenced to 20 years in prison, subsequently received a harsher punishment of life imprisonment. These actions caused serious outrage among the citizens of Azerbaijan, especially in light of claims about the unfoundedness of the accusations against Akhundov and the violation of international legal standards. Such escalation of the situation with prisoners of war exacerbated the already tense relations between the two countries, creating additional obstacles to achieving a peace agreement. This is particularly true regarding the issue of minefields, as Armenia has not yet provided Azerbaijan with maps of these fields, which is a key condition for the continuation of peace negotiations. Although the exchange of prisoners of war is a positive event, it does not eliminate all the existing problems and challenges faced by both countries. One of the key aspects for achieving long-term peace and stability in the region is Armenia's provision of minefield maps to Azerbaijan. This will not only facilitate humanitarian efforts and help prevent further civilian casualties, but also serve as a sign of goodwill and a commitment to peaceful coexistence. Providing mine maps also promotes an atmosphere of trust and cooperation, which is extremely important for resolving other contentious issues and strengthening peace in the region. This step can lay the foundation for broader negotiations aimed at signing a comprehensive peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which will contribute to the sustainable development and prosperity of the entire region. Murad Najafl