Armenians Detained in Baku Face Immediate and Real Threat to Life, Human Rights Defender

The representative for Armenian prisoners of war at the European Court of Human Rights and human rights defender Siranuhi Sahakyan claims that Armenians detained in Baku are under immediate and real threat to their lives, thus any information provided by them cannot be taken as credible or usable for proof purposes.

In an interview with Armenpress, Sahakyan emphasized the importance of raising awareness through various mechanisms about the violation of the right to a fair trial. She noted that since processes regarding Armenian prisoners of war have already been initiated and are ongoing, similar processes must also be initiated concerning the recently detained political and military figures from Nagorno-Karabakh.

“Individuals have been arrested who symbolize the statehood of Artsakh and have distinguished themselves through pro-Armenian activities. On the other hand, even under difficult conditions, they have inspired the people of Artsakh and fought for self-determination. It is evident that we are dealing with revenge, and these individuals are being persecuted for political motives. Under conditions of anti-Armenian sentiment, the risks of human rights violations related to these individuals are quite high, and their physical safety and lives could be threatened, regardless of the assurances given by Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has repeatedly violated agreements, including written ones. To this day, we have prisoners of war who have not been repatriated, which further proves that humanitarian issues are not being resolved, and there are merely political processes at play,” the human rights defender stated.

Addressing information that Azerbaijan's human rights defender has visited Ruben Vardanyan, Sahakyan remarked that the ombudsman has not demonstrated an independent behavior concerning Armenian prisoners of war, and her visits have been merely formal and imitative in nature. Her actions have not spared hundreds of prisoners of war from being killed. There are recorded cases, international investigations that have revealed, for example, the execution at the Black Lake, and we have not seen how, based on human rights, the same ombudsman has worked with her country's authorities to hold accountable those who have committed crimes against Armenians and ensure investigations that would expose serious crimes committed on the basis of hatred. Therefore, according to Sahakyan, no independent or effective mechanism can be provided by the Azerbaijani human rights defender.

When asked whether the cases of Armenian prisoners of war and representatives of the political and military elite detained in Nagorno-Karabakh should be examined separately or considered as one package, Sahakyan emphasized that these are not identical cases.

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