Armenia, Azerbaijan undertake historic prisoner exchange, aiming for regional peace

Armenia and Azerbaijan engaged in a rare swap of prisoners of war on Wednesday, marking a pivotal step towards normalizing relations. This exchange follows Baku’s successful recapture of the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region in a swift autumn offensive.
This marks the first instance of such a prisoner exchange since the rapid September offensive that brought an end to almost three decades of Armenian separatist control in Karabakh, compelling tens of thousands of ethnic Armenians to flee the area.
Despite stalled peace talks, mediated by the European Union, the United States, and Russia, both nations expressed optimism about signing an agreement by year-end. Azerbaijan announced the release of more than two dozen Armenian soldiers in a statement from its state commission for prisoners of war.
“Azerbaijan freed 32 Armenian military, and Armenia freed two Azerbaijani military,” the statement declared, specifying that the exchange occurred at the Gazakh sector of the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border. The International Committee of the Red Cross played a crucial role by examining the health of Armenian soldiers before their transfer.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan publicly shared a list of the 32 released Armenian servicemen on his Facebook page. The prisoner exchange follows a joint statement released last week by Baku and Yerevan, affirming their commitment to achieving a “long-awaited peace in the region.”
The international community, including the EU, the US, Turkey, and Russia, welcomed the breakthrough, emphasizing its potential to revive face-to-face talks between Pashinyan and Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev. However, such negotiations, mediated by EU chief Charles Michel, have been on hold since October.
Efforts to organize fresh rounds of negotiations have faced obstacles, with Azerbaijan declining talks in Spain and the US over perceived biases. The geopolitical landscape, coupled with Russia’s focus on its Ukraine offensive, has further complicated regional dynamics.
Azerbaijan’s military success on September 19 marked the end of a protracted territorial dispute, culminating in the reintegration of Armenian separatist forces with Baku after three decades of control. This victory, while resolving the long-standing conflict, triggered a refugee crisis with over 100,000 Armenians fleeing Karabakh for Armenia. The historic exchange of prisoners now raises hopes for renewed diplomatic dialogue and stability in the region.