Thursday, April 30 2026 12:17

ArmInfo.  On the eve of the upcoming 8th Summit of the European Political Community and the Armenia-European Union Summit to be held in Armenia, around three  dozen human rights and civil society organizations from Armenia have  addressed an open letter to European Commission President Ursula von  der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, calling on  them to support the release of Christian Armenian prisoners held in  Baku.

The full text of the letter is presented below.

Open Letter

To Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission

To Antonio Costa, President of the European Council

Dear Ms. von der Leyen,

Dear Mr. Costa,

Armenia will soon host the 8th Summit of the European Political  Community and the Armenia-European Union Summit. In this context, we  warmly welcome your upcoming visit to our country. We are confident  that these events will further strengthen Armenia-European Union  relations and make a meaningful contribution to advancing peace,  security, and prosperity in Armenia and the wider region.

Through this letter, we, the undersigned human rights and civil  society organizations, wish to draw your attention to a pressing  humanitarian issue: the release of Armenian detainees still held in  Baku. Despite calls from various international bodies for their  immediate and unconditional release, including the demand set out in  the resolution adopted by the European Parliament on March 12, 2025,  Azerbaijan continues to unlawfully detain 19 Armenian prisoners,  prolonging the suffering of their families.

Today, you lead institutions for which the protection of human rights  and humanitarian principles is of fundamental importance. It is  precisely the safeguarding of these core values and respect for  rights that form the foundation for achieving lasting peace.

We appreciate the European Union's efforts to advance the peace  process between Armenia and Azerbaijan and look to your active  support in facilitating the return of Armenian detainees without  delay. The release and repatriation of all Armenians deprived of  liberty in the context of the armed conflict is essential to the  peace process and constitutes a vital confidence-building measure.

Such support is all the more urgent in light of deeply concerning  statements by Azerbaijani officials indicating no intention to return  former officials of Nagorno-Karabakh. In the context of serious  violations of fair trial standards, verdicts have been issued without  being provided to the detainees and independent lawyers effectively  obstructing their right to appeal to international bodies.  Furthermore, the suspension of the activities of the International  Committee of the Red Cross in the country has deprived Armenian  detainees of access to any international humanitarian mechanism.

We, the undersigned human rights organizations, are convinced that  the European Union can play a pivotal role in securing the release of  Armenian detainees held in Baku. It is evident that for the Armenian  public, Azerbaijan's promises of peace cannot be perceived as  credible while it continues to hold Armenians captive and subject  them to suffering.

We therefore respectfully appeal to you and to the leaders of all  European countries to take steps to ensure that the Armenian  prisoners are released and reunited with their families as soon as  possible. We firmly believe that the European Union can truly help  resolve this pressing humanitarian issue and put an end to the  suffering of many Armenian families.

Signed by:

International and Comparative Law Center NGO

Protection of Rights without Borders NGO

Transparency International Anticorruption Center

Armenian Progressive Youth NGO

Helsinki Citizens' Assembly - Vanadzor

Centre for Community Mobilization and Support NGO

Public Journalism Club  NGO

Law Development and Protection Foundation

Direct Democracy NGO

Armenian Committee of Helsinki Citizen's Assembly

Regional Center for Democracy and Security

"We" Youth NGO of Lori Region 

INEDNET - Information and Education Development Network NGO

Rights Centre NGO

Aragats Valley LAG TDNGO

"Helsinki Association" human rights protection NGO

Disability Rights Agenda NGO

"For Equal Rights" NGO 

Peace Dialogue NGO 

Mission Armenia NGO 

New Justice Culture NGO

Journalists For Human Rights NGO 

Armenian Helsinki Committee

"Artsakh Union" NGO

"EQUAL OPPORTUNITY" social, youth NGO

"Against Violation of Law" Foundation

"From Artsakh to Artsakh" informational, analytical, investigational,  advocacy center NGO

In February, the Baku puppet court sentenced Arayik Harutyunyan,  David Babayan, David Ishkhanyan, David Manukyan, and Levon  Mnatsakanyan to life imprisonment, and Bako Sahakyan, Arkady  Ghukasyan, and Ruben Vardanyan to 20 years in prison on trumped-up  charges. The so-called court sentenced the remaining Artsakh  residents to up to 15 years in prison.