The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Armenia has declined to say whether it has petitioned to Baku with a request for a third-country-party visit to the Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan, reports Azatutyun, the RFE/RL’s Armenian service.

The MFA had reported late last month that Armenia had applied to a neutral country with a request to organize a consular visit and visit the Armenian prisoners in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. Also, the MFA had emphasized that Baku's consent is necessary for organizing this visit.

Azatutyun had sent a query to the ministry asking whether Armenia had already officially petitioned to Azerbaijan for a third-country-party visit to these Armenian prisoners. And if so, what response they had received from Baku. Also, the MFA was asked which country had agreed to visit the approximately 20 Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan.

The MFA, however, did not respond to any questions from Azatutyun.

“Work toward addressing the issues of Armenian prisoners held in Baku is ongoing. Given the sensitivity of the issue, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not consider it appropriate to make public additional information about the work being done,” the MFA of Armenia stated.