The European Union follows the issue of Azerbaijani hostages Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev since their capture in June 2014, Toivo Klaar, the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgiaç told, Trend reports.

According to him, the EU, together with the Minsk Group Co-Chairs, fully supports the efforts of the International Committee of the Red Cross. He added that this issue should also be looked at in a broader context.

"It would be very helpful and contribute to building trust if the parties could address humanitarian issues and agree for instance on the release of several detainees. It would show to the societies and all those affected that there is progress and willingness to engage without the sides having to compromise on core positions regarding the conflict. In the Georgia context, there have been several releases of detainees over the past two years, and this has not been negative for any side, quite the contrary, it can provide the basis for further trust-building. Perhaps this could also be the case in the Nagorno-Karabakh context," said Klaar.

During an operation in July 2014 in Shaplar village of Azerbaijani Kalbajar district occupied by Armenia, the Armenian special forces killed an Azerbaijani, Hasan Hasanov, and took hostage two other Azerbaijanis, Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilgam Asgarov. A "criminal case" was initiated against them. Afterwards, a "court" sentenced Asgarov to life imprisonment and Guliyev to 22 years in prison.

Efsane Elesgerli,
“Xalq qazeti”