We stand united in the fight for justice, dignity, and the protection of human rights. Our movement now focuses on the urgent issue of the Armenian political prisoners being unjustly detained in Azerbaijan.
During the mass exodus of hundreds of thousands of Armenians from the capital city (Stepanakert), the Azerbaijani Government arrested eight former members of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh’s government and advocates for the self-determination of Artsakh. Those detained include Ruben Vardanyan, an Armenian businessman and philanthropist who served as the State Minister of the Artsakh government; three former presidents of the Republic, Arayik Harutyunyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan; and other former officials, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, David Ishkanyan, and Davit Manukyan.
These individuals and the remaining prisoners have been subjected to arbitrary detention, torture, and denial of due process and are being detained in clear violation of a range of domestic and international laws.
These include:
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
The Geneva (III) Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War (1949)
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
International Convention against Taking of Hostages
It’s shocking to see Azerbaijan listed as a party to these frameworks yet choosing to violate them so blatantly.
Azerbaijan’s ongoing political repression, in particular against Armenians, is a stark reminder of the country's disregard for international norms, human rights, and the rule of law. These political prisoners are victims of a broader system of ethnic discrimination and cleansing.
We call for the immediate release of all Armenian political prisoners held in Azerbaijan and for the international community to hold Azerbaijan accountable for its actions. This is not only a matter of individual liberty, but a moral obligation to uphold human rights and demand justice in the face of systemic oppression.
Our protest now seeks to:
1. Demand the immediate and unconditional release of all Armenian political prisoners in Azerbaijan.
2. Call for the restoration of their basic human rights, including the right to a fair trial, protection from torture, and the right to freedom of expression.
3. Urge the international community, including the United Nations, the European Union, and human rights organizations, to take decisive action to ensure accountability for Azerbaijan’s treatment of political prisoners.
4. Raise global awareness about the ongoing human rights violations against Armenians in Azerbaijan, and the urgent need for a broader reckoning on issues of justice, peace, and ethnic reconciliation in the region.
We cannot remain silent in the face of such violations. Our movement is a call to the world to stand for the rights of the oppressed, to ensure that human dignity is protected, and to demand the release of those wrongfully imprisoned. Together, we will amplify the voices of the voiceless and fight for a future free of injustice and persecution.
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