A French military plane transporting eight Armenian POWs from Baku to Yerevan has landed in Yerevan. 

"We are very happy with this success of the mediation of President Macron and President Michel," the French Embassy in Armenia said in a statement.

The release of the Armenian POWs follows the February 4 video conference Macron had with Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. European Council President Charles Michel also took part.

French Ambassador to Armenia Anne Louyot and Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia Andrea Wiktorin were on hand at Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airport to greet the plane.

The returned POWS are: Sargis Tarzyan, Vardges Balayan, Armen Petrosyan, Artur Babayan, Hmayak Sargsyan, Gurgen Galoyan, Grigor Kyureghyan, Vagharshak Maloyan.

In a Tweet, European Council President Charles Michel wrote:

The release by Azerbaijan and reparation to Armenia of 8 Armenian detainees is another sign of positive developments following the meeting with @EmmanuelMacron @azpresident @NikolPashinyan

The EU supports stability and prosperity in the region. pic.twitter.com/PprzrxxRt6

— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) February 7, 2022

The release by Azerbaijan and reparation to Armenia of 8 Armenian detainees is another sign of positive developments following the meeting with EmmanuelMacron, azpresident,NikolPashinyan.

The EU supports stability and prosperity in the region.

French President Emmanuel Macron, in a Tweet, wrote:

Huit détenus arméniens ont été remis en liberté par l’Azerbaïdjan et transférés de Bakou vers Erevan. Ils retrouvent leurs familles dont ils étaient séparés depuis plusieurs mois. Merci à nos diplomates ainsi qu’à nos militaires mobilisés dans cette opération. On avance ! https://t.co/7IVoxX7b9q pic.twitter.com/ho1cxIHWco

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) February 7, 2022

8 Armenian detainees were released by Azerbaijan and transferred from Baku to Yerevan. They have been reunited with their families, from whom they were separated for several months.

According to French media, a statement issued by the Elysée Palace said that Friday's video conference was part of the French president's mediation effort, coordinated with the President of the European Council, aimed at promoting dialogue and joint humanitarian and confidence-building measures between Armenia and Azerbaijan.