Prisoners of War: High-ranking Artsakh officials, including former Presidents Bako Sahakyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, and Arayik Harutyunyan, along with former State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, former National Assembly Speaker David Ishkhanyan and other prisoner of war, are facing trials in Azerbaijan that have sparked widespread international condemnation and accusations of politically motivated sham proceedings.The “Prisoner of War” designation is contested by Azerbaijan, which considers them criminals. However, their status as former officials during a period of armed conflict raises serious questions under international humanitarian law.
These trials are being closely monitored by international observers, who have raised serious concerns about their legitimacy and adherence to international legal standards. The detention and prosecution of these key Artsakh figures, who hold significant historical and symbolic weight within the Armenian community of Nagorno-Karabakh, are viewed as particularly troubling in the context of the recent conflict and its aftermath.
While Ruben Vardanyan and his defense team have filed motions, including one to consolidate his case with those of other Armenians facing similar charges, the core issue remains the lack of due process and fair trial guarantees for all those detained. Each official is facing separate trials. The specific charges against them vary, but they generally revolve around accusations of terrorism, illegal armed group formation, and other related offenses stemming from their roles in the Artsakh government during the conflict (Source: Official Statements on Charges, 29 July, 2023).
Armenia’s Human Rights Defender (HRD) has issued a strong statement condemning the ongoing rights violations of ethnic Armenians detained in Azerbaijan. The HRD has documented instances of pre-trial labeling of detainees as “criminals” by Azerbaijani authorities and the continued dissemination of hate speech and calls for violence against Armenians in Azerbaijani media and social media, creating a hostile environment that undermines the presumption of innocence (Source: Armenian HRD Statement, December, 2020).
Former International Criminal Court Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo has drawn parallels between these trials and Stalinist-era show trials, arguing that they are designed to silence dissent, obscure alleged Azerbaijani crimes, and solidify Ilham Aliyev’s authoritarian rule. Ocampo has also raised concerns about the creation of conditions conducive to genocide during the 2022-2023 blockade and subsequent military attack, referencing Article 2 of the Genocide Convention. He has characterized the forced displacement of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh as ethnic cleansing, potentially amounting to crimes against humanity (Source: Luis Moreno Ocampo Statement/Op-Ed, January, 2025).
Reports, including those from BBC’s Russian service, have detailed the harsh treatment allegedly endured by Ruben Vardanyan in Baku prison, including alleged instances of sleep deprivation, denial of water and basic hygiene, and other forms of mistreatment during a 20-day hunger strike in April 2024 (Source: BBC Russian Service Report on Vardanyan’s Treatment, 17 January, 2025). These reports have intensified concerns about the conditions of detention for all Artsakh detainees and raise fears of torture and ill-treatment.
International human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, along with bodies such as the UN Committee Against Torture and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), have expressed serious concerns regarding fair trial guarantees, access to effective legal defense, and allegations of torture and ill-treatment (Sources: Reports from HRW, Amnesty International, UN Committee Against Torture (Download Here), PACE, and other relevant organizations). These organizations have called for independent monitoring of the trials and for Azerbaijan to uphold its international human rights obligations. The European Court of Human Rights also plays an important role in overseeing the adherence to the European Convention of Human Rights.
The international community is urged to take swift and decisive action to address these deeply concerning developments. The trials of these high-ranking Artsakh officials raise grave concerns about human rights, the rule of law, and the potential for further escalation of tensions in the region.
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