- Human rights lawyer Jared Genser urges the Trump administration to make the release of Armenian POWs a precondition for supporting a peace deal with Azerbaijan.
- Genser highlights a recently agreed peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan that does not address the issue of POWs.
- He advocates for Ruben Vardanyan, a former Nagorno-Karabakh official detained in Baku, and raises concerns about religious persecution.
- Genser points out President Trump’s past stance on Armenian Christians and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
- He warns that a peace deal ignoring POWs and the future of Nagorno-Karabakh could lead to future instability.
Genser Calls for Armenian POW Release as Prerequisite for US Support of Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Deal
Washington, D.C. – Renowned international human rights lawyer Jared Genser has called on the Trump administration to prioritize the release of Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) held in Azerbaijan, asserting that this should be a non-negotiable precondition for the United States to endorse any peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Genser’s appeal comes as Armenia and Azerbaijan recently agreed to the text of a potential peace treaty, raising concerns that the critical issue of POWs might be overlooked.
Speaking to the Catholic News Agency (CNA) in an extensive interview, Genser, who serves as international counsel for Ruben Vardanyan, the former state minister of Nagorno-Karabakh, emphasized the urgency of securing the release of all Armenian POWs. He highlighted that the Trump administration has historically expressed support for persecuted Armenian Christians and condemned the events in Nagorno-Karabakh as “ethnic cleansing” during the 2024 campaign.
Peace Agreement Concerns and the Case of Ruben Vardanyan
Earlier this month, Armenia and Azerbaijan reached an agreement on the text of a peace deal aimed at ending nearly four decades of conflict. While Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has indicated his eagerness to sign the compact, widespread disagreement persists over several reported stipulations. Notably, the current draft of the peace agreement does not explicitly address the fate of Armenian POWs or the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Genser is particularly focused on the case of Ruben Vardanyan, who was arrested by Azerbaijani authorities in September 2023 while attempting to flee Nagorno-Karabakh with his wife following Azerbaijan’s nine-month blockade of the region. Vardanyan, a Christian belonging to the Armenian Apostolic Church, has been detained in Baku since his arrest. Genser expressed concern that Vardanyan has been denied access to a Bible in prison, suggesting a religious motivation behind his detention and the broader treatment of Armenian leaders from Nagorno-Karabakh. He also pointed to the documented instances of Armenian churches and heritage sites being burned following the ethnic cleansing.
Broader Advocacy for POWs and Refugees
Genser clarified that his work extends beyond the case of Ruben Vardanyan, encompassing advocacy for all Armenian prisoners of war and refugees of Nagorno-Karabakh. He stressed the importance of achieving true peace and stability between Armenia and Azerbaijan, arguing that unresolved issues like the POWs and the future of Nagorno-Karabakh could become flashpoints for future conflict.
He revealed that he has been informed that the release of Armenian Christian POWs is now considered a “top priority” for the new Trump administration and that their freedom “needs to be a precondition for President Trump to ultimately bless a peace deal.” Genser expressed concern that without this precondition, the POWs could be “sacrificed” as part of the peace agreement.
Contentious Issues in the Proposed Peace Deal
Genser also raised concerns about other aspects of the proposed peace deal, particularly Azerbaijan’s demands that Armenia cede the Lachin Corridor, which would facilitate a pipeline route from Azerbaijan to Turkey through Armenia, and that Armenia remove a preamble in its constitution that lays a territorial claim on Nagorno-Karabakh. Genser argued that it is unprecedented for a country to cede sovereign land and effectively cut off part of its population, as would be the case with the Lachin Corridor demand.
Regarding the constitutional demand, Genser cited analysis suggesting that unless Azerbaijan withdraws this long-standing demand, the peace deal is unlikely to be signed in the near future. He also noted Azerbaijan’s accusations of ceasefire violations by Armenia, which Armenia denies, further escalating tensions while the fate of the POWs remains uncertain.
US State Department’s Stance
When contacted by CNA regarding the situation of Armenian Christian POWs, the State Department stated that they are closely monitoring the situation through their embassies in the region and that all detainees should have their human rights respected and be afforded fair trial guarantees if criminally charged.
The Path to Lasting Peace
Genser concluded by emphasizing that lasting peace will only be achievable when all relevant issues and potential provocations are identified, negotiated, and fully addressed within the framework of the peace deal itself. He warned that a peace agreement that leaves the future of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh and the release of Armenian Christian POWs unresolved is a “recipe for future flare-ups, disagreements, and even potential war.” His statements underscore the critical importance of addressing humanitarian concerns alongside political negotiations to ensure a sustainable and just peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.