Rally in support of Armenian prisoners in Baku held in front of the UN office in Yerevan
YEREVAN, January 17. /ARKA/. A rally against the crimes of the Azerbaijani regime was held in front of the UN office in Yerevan on Friday, with protesters demanding the release of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians illegally detained in Baku’s prisons.
The rally coincided with the start of the trial of 15 of the 23 detainees, including the renowned financier and philanthropist, former Artsakh state minister Ruben Vardanyan.
“The efforts of all the organizers and participants of the rally are focused on the urgent cessation of the torture our compatriots are enduring in Azerbaijani prisons. We demand their swift return home,” former Artsakh ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan told journalists.
He emphasized that inaction on this issue is unacceptable and called for continued efforts to attract the attention of the Armenian authorities and international organizations.
According to Stepanyan, this is an extremely important and purely humanitarian issue. The human rights activist believes the Armenian side should generate international pressure on Baku to achieve the swift release of the prisoners.
He stated that the trial of Armenians in Baku cannot be regarded as a legal process, as the country refuses to even uphold the most basic human rights.
Stepanyan is convinced that the international community will not act until the Armenian authorities and diaspora organizations formulate and present clear, specific demands.
“Although the Armenian leadership periodically claims to be working to release the prisoners, we see no real results. There are none,” said the former ombudsman.
The protesters handed an open letter to the UN office, demanding that it condemn the crimes of the Baku regime against humanity. They also called for pressure on Baku to quickly release the prisoners and to ensure conditions for the dignified and safe return of Armenians to Nagorno-Karabakh.
The protesters then marched to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building.
About the Armenian prisoners in Baku
Azerbaijan officially confirms that it is holding only 33 Armenian prisoners of war and civilians, but Armenian human rights activists claim that there are another 80 Armenian prisoners.
The following are under arrest in Azerbaijan: former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, former presidents Bako Sahakyan and Arkady Ghukasyan, former Speaker of the Parliament David Ishkhanyan, former Foreign Minister David Babayan, former Deputy Commander of the Artsakh Defense Army David Manukyan. Among those arrested are former President Arayik Harutyunyan and former Commander of the Defense Army Levon Mnatsakanyan.
