European Ombudsman Calls on Azerbaijan to Immediately Release Detainees

The Secretary General of the European Ombudsman Institute, Joseph Siegele, has issued a statement urging the immediate release of Armenian captives—including military personnel and civilians—held in Azerbaijan. This announcement was shared on Facebook by Armenia's Human Rights Defender, Arman Tatoyan, along with the statement.

“I call on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners of war and civilians detained in Azerbaijan as a result of the recent conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. Every individual who is imprisoned as a result of armed conflict must be returned immediately after the cessation of hostilities and without any preconditions. This must be viewed solely within the framework of human rights and humanitarian processes, as a requirement for international action,” stated Siegele.

He emphasized that delaying the return of Armenian prisoners and civilians undermines human dignity and severely violates fundamental prerequisites guaranteed by the Geneva Conventions. Such delays significantly disrupt humanitarian processes and the international mandates that guarantee human rights in the post-war phase. The release of detainees and their safe return require urgent resolution.

— Joseph Siegele, Secretary General of the European Ombudsman Institute