The Public Council for the Defense of Tsarukyan appealed to the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize laureate for assistance

ArmInfo. The Public Council for the Protection of Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) leader and businessman Gagik Tsarukyan and political prisoners sent a letter to 2026 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Navi Pillay outlining the serious human rights challenges in Armenia and drawing her attention to the alarming developments unfolding in the country.

The authors of the letter, congratulating Pillay on receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, noted that this prestigious award is a tribute to your long-standing dedication to the protection of human rights, international justice, and the establishment of the fundamental principle that the law must protect the individual from the arbitrary use of power.

"In Armenia, we closely follow the activities of those whose commitment to peace and human rights has received international recognition. Our historical and contemporary experience has shown us the enormous price nations and ordinary people pay for peace. Therefore, the international recognition of your work gives us hope that the international community will remain committed to the values of peace, justice, and human dignity. At the same time, we would like to emphasize a principle of particular importance to Armenia: peace cannot be stable and lasting unless it is based on the rule of law, justice, and the effective protection of fundamental human rights," the letter states.

In this regard, it is noted that while a fragile peace maintains along Armenia's external borders, serious concerns are arising within the country regarding the state of legal guarantees, the administration of justice, and the conditions for democratic political life.

"We are convinced that strengthening the domestic judicial system and the rule of law is indispensable for ensuring social stability, restoring public trust, and maintaining long-term peace." It is in this context that we appeal to you to draw your attention to the detention of prominent leaders of opposition political forces in Armenia and the broader implications of these events for individual freedom, political pluralism, and the functioning of democratic institutions," the letter reads.

The authors of the letter recall that following the parliamentary elections in Armenia on June 7, 2026, one of the main opposition forces, the Prosperous Armenia Party, was stripped of its parliamentary mandates as a result of an unconstitutional recount, and its leader, Gagik Tsarukyan, was subsequently arrested and remains in custody.

"Our concerns are further heightened by the fact that the leaders of two other opposition forces that entered parliament also remain in custody. These individuals are well-known politicians and party leaders who represent peaceful ideological positions that are an alternative to the authorities and who openly criticize government policies. "Their role in a democratic society is to express alternative political positions, represent the interests of their constituents and supporters, and challenge government decisions through peaceful political activity. Therefore, their continued detention affects not only their personal rights but also the ability of their supporters to fully participate in political life," the letter continues. The authors of the appeal acknowledge that being a political leader does not exempt anyone from investigation or prosecution, but emphasize that criminal prosecution should not become a means of isolating political opponents or restricting legitimate political competition.

"We are not asking you to predetermine your position on charges against any individual or to interfere with judicial assessments of guilt or innocence. Our concerns relate to the safeguards that should govern criminal proceedings, and in particular, the use of pretrial detention. The presumption of innocence must be applied in practice, including by ensuring protection against the use of pretrial detention as a form of punishment." "Where necessary and in accordance with the law, proportionate alternatives to imprisonment should be considered, ensuring that individuals can exercise their rights and fully participate in public and political life during the trial," the statement continues.

The statement also recalls the Armenians illegally detained in Baku, including representatives of the former military and political leadership of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

"Given your long-standing experience in the field of human rights protection and international justice, we appeal to you, within the limits of your capabilities and professional connections, to support the international discussion of these issues.  In particular, we would be grateful if you would consider the following options:  "Call on the Armenian authorities to ensure that the cases of detained opposition leaders are dealt with in accordance with the principles of the rule of law, the presumption of innocence, and fair trial guarantees, and to ensure their release pending trial unless detention is necessary and proportionate, using appropriate non-custodial alternatives, where appropriate," the authors of the letter noted.

They also asked Pillay to draw attention to the broader implications of these cases for political pluralism, the protection of peaceful opposition, and the right of citizens to participate in public and political life without the risk of arbitrary detention; to promote discussion of these issues within the framework of international human rights agreements and, where appropriate, to raise them with the relevant Armenian authorities and international human rights mechanisms; Support ongoing international efforts to protect the rights of Armenians detained in Baku, ensure adequate legal guarantees for their cases, and find possible avenues for their release.

The letter also includes lists of political prisoners, political and public figures subject to political persecution in Armenia, as well as political prisoners and prisoners of war illegally held in Azerbaijani prisons.