On March 18, a significant dialogue on the plight of Armenian captives unfolded at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, aptly titled “Human Rights in Azerbaijan: The Trials and Detention of Ethnic Armenians.” Esteemed participants included Siranush Sahakyan, the head of the Center for International and Comparative Law, Philippe Kalfayan, ex-Secretary General of the International Federation for Human Rights, and Arpi Avetisyan, an international human rights lawyer. They collectively advocated for the urgent release of Armenian prisoners, echoing their concerns.
Access to Armenian hostages detained in Baku is alarmingly restricted, as only the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has permission to visit them. The threat looms large that if the ICRC concludes its operations in Azerbaijan, these hostages could fall completely under the mercy of Azerbaijani authorities, intensifying fears around their welfare.
Siranush Sahakyan highlighted the perilous implications of potentially shutting down the ICRC mission, noting, “Azerbaijan is acting against an organization with a purely humanitarian mandate”. Such actions could expose Armenian prisoners to even greater psychological and physical harm, as they may be leveraged as instruments of political pressure, severing their only channel of communication with their families.
Arpi Avetisyan underscored the dire circumstances of detainees, revealing that local families reported a troubling decline in the health of prisoner Ruben Vardanyan due to isolation and lack of medical attention. Moreover, promises of monitoring by Azerbaijan’s Human Rights Commissioner were dismissed as unreliable, with the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture being denied access—raising grave alarm regarding inmate treatment.
Among the 23 Armenian hostages in Baku, 16 are embroiled in ongoing legal trials marred by stark human rights abuses. Sahakyan condemned Azerbaijan’s judiciary as one of the most corrupt, where decisions are perpetually swayed by political machinations rather than justice, stating, “Given the discriminatory atmosphere against Armenians, there is no scenario in which Azerbaijani judges can make impartial decisions.”
Philippe Kalfayan spoke with conviction about the motivations driving the prosecution of these individuals, stating, “These individuals are symbols of resistance… They refused to submit to the Azerbaijani administration.” The discussion, hosted by the European Centre for Law and Justice alongside Christian Solidarity International, serves as a crucial reminder of the ongoing struggle for human rights in Azerbaijan.
A discussion at the UN Human Rights Council on March 18 addressed the trials and detention of Armenian captives in Azerbaijan. Prominent speakers called for their unconditional release and warned of the risks associated with restricted access to the ICRC. They highlighted serious human rights violations within Azerbaijan’s judicial system and concerns about the health and treatment of the detainees. The event was organised by the European Centre for Law and Justice and Christian Solidarity International.
The discussion on Armenian captives at the UN Human Rights Council has spotlighted serious human rights violations and the pressing need for the immediate release of these individuals. The participants underscored the precarious situation faced by detainees, particularly amidst a deteriorating judicial system in Azerbaijan. Furthermore, concerns around the future of the ICRC’s operations underscore the urgent need for international oversight and advocacy for the rights of the Armenian prisoners.
Original Source: armenianweekly.com
