On the eve of the upcoming 8th European Political Community Summit in Armenia and the Armenia-EU Summit, about three dozen Armenian human rights and non-governmental organizations dealing with human rights have written an open letter to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, Antonio Koshta, urging them to support the release of Christian Armenian prisoners held in Baku.
Below is the letter in its entirety.
An open letter
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
To the President of the European Council, Antonio Košta
Dear Mrs von der Leyen,
Dear Mr. Koshta,
Armenia will soon host the 8th European Political Community Summit and the Armenia-EU Summit. Within the framework of these events, your upcoming visit to our country is welcome. We are confident that these measures will further strengthen the relations between Armenia and the European Union and will really contribute to progress towards ensuring peace, security, and prosperity in Armenia and the region.
With this letter, we, the undersigned human rights organizations, draw your attention to an important humanitarian issue: the release of Armenian prisoners still held in Baku. Despite the immediate and unconditional release of Armenian prisoners by various international structures, including the 2025 adopted by the European Parliament on March 12 formulato whom reflecting the demand, Azerbaijan continues to illegally hold 19 Armenian prisoners and cause suffering to their families.
Today, you lead a structure for which the protection of human rights and humanitarian issues are of cornerstone importance. And it is the preservation of these important values, the respect for rights, that is the basis that allows establishing a stable peace.
We appreciate the EU’s efforts towards the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan and expect your active support in enabling the immediate return of Armenian prisoners. The release and repatriation of all Armenians imprisoned in the context of the armed conflict is of primary importance for the peace process and is a crucial confidence-building measure.
Such support becomes all the more urgent given the deeply troubling statements by Azerbaijani officials that they have no intention of returning former Nagorno-Karabakh officials. In the conditions of a complete violation of the principles of a fair trial, judgments were made, which have not even been provided to the detainees and their independent lawyers, which actually hinders their right to appeal to international courts. And the termination of the activities of the International Red Cross Organization in the country at the request of the Azerbaijani government has deprived the Armenian prisoners of any international humanitarian mechanism.
We, the undersigned human rights organizations, are convinced that the European Union can play a decisive role in the release of Armenian prisoners held in Baku. It is obvious that Azerbaijan’s promises of peace cannot sound credible to the Armenian public as long as Armenians are kept there and subjected to suffering.
Therefore, we appeal to you and the leaders of all European countries to take steps so that the imprisoned Armenian prisoners are released as soon as possible and reunited with their families. We strongly believe that the European Union can actually support the solution of this urgent humanitarian problem and put an end to the suffering of many Armenian families.
Signed by:
“Center for International and Comparative Law” NGO
“Protection of rights without borders” NGO
Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center
“Armenian Progressive Youth” NGO
Helsinki Civic Assembly Vanadzor office
Chairman of the “Community Consolidation and Support Center” NGO
“Public Journalism Club” NGO
Law Development and Defense Fund
“Just Democracy” NGO
Regional Center for Democracy and Security
“MENK” youth NGO of Lori marz
INEDNET Information and Education Development Network NGO
“Law Center” NGO
“Aragats Hovit” TACH)
“Helsinki Association” human rights NGO
“Agenda for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” NGO
“For Equal Rights” NGO
“Peace Dialogue” NGO
“Mission Armenia” PAP
“New Culture of Justice” NGO
“Journalists for Human Rights” NGO
Helsinki Committee of Armenia
“Artsakh Union” NGO
“EQUAL OPPORTUNITY” social, youth NGO
“Against legal arbitrariness” NGO
“From Artsakh to Artsakh” information, analytical, research, advocacy center NGO
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