Today marks first anniversary of arbitrary arrest of military-political leaders of Artsakh by Azerbaijan

ArmInfo. Today marks the first anniversary of the arbitrary arrest of eight members of the military-political leadership of Artsakh by the Azerbaijani authorities, which began with the arrest of social entrepreneur and philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan.

The "Freedom for Armenian Prisoners of War" initiative recalls that the eight Armenian leaders were illegally arrested in September and October 2023 after Azerbaijan launched a military offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh, displacing 120,000 ethnic Armenians of Artsakh.

"My father's detention without any evidence or due process is a clear violation of all international norms and laws. We call on the international community to intensify efforts to ensure his immediate and unconditional release along with other political leaders illegally detained in Azerbaijan," said David Vardanyan, Ruben Vardanyan's son.

The Initiative also notes that despite calls from business and civil society leaders, as well as members of the European Parliament, the French Parliament, the UK House of Commons and Lords, and the US Congress for their release, Ruben Vardanyan remains in pre-trial detention without a trial date or formal charges brought against him.

"A year of detention without trial or concrete evidence demonstrates the political nature of this case.  Azerbaijan must uphold its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and immediately release Ruben Vardanyan," says Jared Genser, the Vardanyan family's international legal adviser.

The Initiative notes that Vardanyan briefly served as the Minister of State for Nagorno-Karabakh and has long been a vocal critic of the Azerbaijani government for its mistreatment of ethnic Armenians and violations of international law.

"Azerbaijan's deteriorating human rights record is receiving intense scrutiny as the country prepares to host COP29, the annual UN meeting of world leaders to combat climate change. Ahead of the conference in November, Azerbaijan called for a "global ceasefire" and a pause in all ongoing conflicts, a move that was widely criticized, with many accusing Azerbaijan of hypocrisy given the government's intensified repression of civil society, rising arrests of political prisoners, and military offensive against the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh," the Freedom for Armenian Prisoners of War statement continued. It also noted that many human rights organizations, including Freedom House, have argued that the country's actions in Nagorno-Karabakh amount to ethnic cleansing, with ethnic Armenians "deliberately subjected to repeated attacks, intimidation, deprivation of basic rights and adequate living conditions, and forced displacement by the Azerbaijani state." And others, including former International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo, confirm that Azerbaijan's actions amount to the international crime of genocide.

The exact number of Armenian prisoners of war and hostages held in Azerbaijani prisons is still unknown.  According to experts, there are several hundred. Among those held in Azerbaijani captivity, there are 8 former and current representatives of the military-political leadership of Artsakh. These are the former presidents of Artsakh Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arayik Harutyunyan, former Minister of Foreign Affairs David Babayan, as well as the speaker of the parliament David Ishkhanyan, former commander of the Artsakh Defense Army, General Levon Mnatsakanyan, General David Manukyan and former state minister Ruben Vardanyan.