Around 30 Armenian human Rights organizations, including the “We” Youth NGO of Lori Region, have addressed an open letter to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, António Costa, urging immediate action for the release of Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) illegally held in Baku.
Key points highlighted in the letter:
- Humanitarian Crisis: Despite demands from international bodies, including the European Parliament, Azerbaijan continues to illegally detain 19 Armenian POWs, including former officials of Nagorno-Karabakh.
- Severe Rights Violations: Verdicts have been passed in total violation of fair trial principles, with documents withheld from the detainees and their independent lawyers. Furthermore, the suspension of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) operations by Azerbaijan has deprived Armenian prisoners of any international humanitarian oversight.
- The EU’s Role in Peace: Achieving sustainable peace and building trust in the region is impossible as long as Armenians remain captive and subjected to suffering in Baku.
The undersigned organizations call upon the European Union and European leaders to exercise their leverage to ensure that all Armenian detainees are released immediately and reunited with their families.
Details are available in the Armenian version/Մանրամասները հասանելի են հայերեն տարբերակում
