The Lemkin Institute Calls on Aliyev and Initiates a Petition

The Lemkin Institute for the Prevention of Genocides has called on Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to release all Armenian prisoners unlawfully held in Baku and has initiated a petition regarding this matter.

“Philanthropist, humanitarian, and former Prime Minister of Nagorno-Karabakh Ruben Vardanyan has been detained by the Azerbaijani government and is being unlawfully held alongside other notable Armenians. It is time for Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to immediately release these Armenians,” the statement says.

The statement highlights that little information is available regarding the health and condition of these individuals, which is deeply concerning. “These individuals have been detained in clear violation of domestic and international law, including the UN and European Convention on Human Rights, to which Azerbaijan is a party. Their detention conditions are profoundly alarming, including inadequate communication with their families, a lack of regular independent monitoring or consular access, and the refusal of access to local and international lawyers. Azerbaijan must respect international legal standards and human rights, which are essential for peace and stability. Every day is crucial for the lives of these detainees. Any peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan must include their release. We call on President Ilham Aliyev to immediately free all these unlawfully detained individuals,” the statement adds.

The authors of the petition reminded about the mass military aggression by Azerbaijan against the Republic of Artsakh last September and the resulting forced displacement of 120,000 ethnic Armenians. “This is undoubtedly ethnic cleansing; most of the world agrees. Human rights organizations have characterized Azerbaijani actions as genocide,” the statement concludes.