Committee for Protection of Fundamental Rights of People of Artsakh  calls on international actors to step up efforts to release Armenian  hostages 

ArmInfo.The Committee for the Protection of the Fundamental Rights of the People of Artsakh has called on international actors, especially the OSCE Minsk Group Co-  Chair countries, to take a leading role in ensuring the release of  all Armenian hostages held in Baku. This is stated in a statement  received by ArmInfo by the Committee for the Protection of the  Fundamental Rights of the People of Artsakh, made following the  meeting on March 8. 

The statement notes that the Committee decided to intensify efforts  to release Armenian prisoners of war held in Baku due to the inaction  of the Armenian government. "Since its establishment, the Committee  has focused its efforts on ensuring the safe, collective and  dignified return of the forcibly displaced people of Artsakh. The  Committee for the Protection of the Fundamental Rights of the People  of Artsakh has been actively working to release the Armenian hostages  illegally held in Baku prisons, as well as to protect the Armenian  cultural and religious heritage," the statement of the Committee  says.

It is also noted that thanks to the ongoing cooperation of the  Committee for the Protection of the Fundamental Rights of the People  of Artsakh with the international community, support for the right of  the Artsakh people to return has increased significantly over the  past year.

"This right was further confirmed by the decision of the  International Court of Justice of November 17, 2023, as well as by  the resolutions of the European Parliament of March 12 and October  25, 2024, which call on Azerbaijan to ensure safe return. This right  was publicly supported by the three OSCE Minsk Group co-chair  countries - the United States, Russia and France, and the Swiss  National Council adopted a proposal to create a platform for dialogue  between representatives of Artsakh and Azerbaijan. Similar  resolutions are also being discussed in European capitals and the US  Congress," the statement continues.

The Committee emphasized that as part of its work, in the coming  months it plans to participate in events to be organized in  Washington, Brussels, Geneva and other cities, as well as hold  high-level meetings aimed at creating the diplomatic atmosphere  necessary for the mediation process.

"These developments demonstrate broad international consensus and  create a basis for further continuous work. Building on the successes  achieved, the Committee enters a decisive stage of its activities and  remains steadfast in its mission to ensure recognition and protection  of the fundamental rights of the people of Artsakh. We will continue  to cooperate with international organizations, including the United  Nations, the OSCE and human rights organizations, to achieve concrete  steps to ensure justice and protect rights," the Committee concluded.  The Committee for the Protection of the Fundamental Rights of the  People of Artsakh was established and authorized by the decision of  the Artsakh Parliament on December 2, 2023.

On March 7, former Artsakh state minister and philanthropist Ruben  Vardanyan, who went on a hunger strike on January 15, sent a message  from the Baku prisons and stated that the decision to go on a hunger  strike had nothing to do with his condition and the conditions of his  detention - it was a protest against the process, against the way  this trial was being carried out. In the message, distributed by  Vardanyan through his family, the philanthropist called for peace  based on fundamental human values and dignity.