Protesters in Yerevan demanded the European Union's attention to the problems of Karabakh residents.

At a rally in Yerevan, Karabakh natives called on EU representatives to pay attention to the problems of Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijan and the preservation of Armenian cultural heritage.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," 40 public organizations and political forces from Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh signed an appeal to the participants of the European Summit and the Armenia-EU Summit, calling on them to promote the preservation of cultural values ​​in Karabakh and the protection of the rights of Karabakh refugees. For May 4, the opening day of the summit in Yerevan, activists planned a rally titled "Let's stand up for democracy and rights in Armenia."

People from Nagorno-Karabakh began a peaceful protest today, timed to coincide with the start of the European Political Community summit, which is taking place in Yerevan, News.am reports.

The organizers of the protest intend to draw international attention to issues they consider vital for the people of Karabakh.

"We consider it important to use this opportunity to raise issues that are key to us and make our voice heard on the international stage," the newspaper quotes the organizers as saying.

The activists called on "all concerned" to join the protest and support the people of Karabakh, writes publication.

The publication is illustrated with a video showing several dozen people. They are holding placards with slogans in English, including: "Release the Christian Armenian hostages," "Artsakh is Armenia" (Artsakh is the self-designation of Nagorno-Karabakh – note from the "Caucasian Knot"), and "Protect Armenian heritage in Artsakh."

The European Political Community is an informal platform for dialogue between European countries and partners and does not provide for the adoption of legally binding decisions, Novosti-Armenia reported today.

The main theme of the summit is "Building the Future: Unity and Stability in Europe." Participants will discuss strengthening democratic resilience, developing transport and digital communications, economic and energy security, as well as regional and geopolitical issues. The summit program includes plenary sessions, roundtables, and bilateral meetings, the publication writes.

As a reminder, on May 1, the Azerbaijani Parliament adopted a decision to suspend all ties with the European Parliament after the European Parliament adopted a resolution that indicates the right of return of Armenians to Karabakh and also demands the release of Armenian prisoners. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry handed a note of protest to the EU ambassador.

According to a statement by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Azerbaijan officially confirms the detention of only 33 Armenian prisoners and civilians. However, Armenian human rights activists have reported another 80 Armenian prisoners. On September 3, 2025, the ICRC terminated its mission in Azerbaijan at the request of the government of that country.

On September 19-20, 2023, Azerbaijan launched large-scale military operations and took control of the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, which began a mass exodus of the Armenian population. By October 7, 2023, 100,632 internally displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh had arrived in Armenia, and by September 2024, only 14 Armenians remained in the region. The "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report "The Beginning and End of the Unrecognized Republic of Artsakh".