On October 1, a discussion was held at the UN Human Rights Council. During the discussion, speakers called on the international community to pressure Azerbaijan to release those captured by the country between 2020 and 2023. The event was organized by Christian Solidarity International (CSI). The lives of dozens of ethnic Armenians unlawfully held in Baku are at risk. At least 23 Armenians are currently in Azerbaijani custody, including former political and military leaders of Artsakh. It is believed that several dozen more may also be imprisoned.
The event was opened by Linda Euljekjian, the wife of Vigen Euljekjian, who is currently held in captivity. She spoke about the "unimaginable hardships" her husband has endured since 2020.
“In addition to the 23 individuals currently held in Azerbaijani custody, there have been more than 80 documented cases of enforced disappearance. In some cases, there is video evidence proving that these individuals were in Azerbaijani custody before they vanished,” said human rights lawyer Siranush Sahakyan, head of the Center for International and Comparative Law. She presented videos collected from Azerbaijani social media platforms showing missing serviceman Aleksandr Yeghiazaryan and missing civilians Maksim Grigoryan and Karen Petrosyan being subjected to violence or interrogated by Azerbaijani soldiers.
Gegam Stepanyan, the Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), joined the event via video link. In his remarks, he highlighted four of the most urgent issues facing the people in the aftermath of their forced displacement:
The humanitarian needs of the displaced Armenian population,
The preservation of Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh amid attempts by Azerbaijan to destroy it,
The safe, dignified, and collective return of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to their homes,
The release of hostages held by Azerbaijan.
“It is essential that strong international pressure is placed on Azerbaijan to release all detainees,” said Stepanyan.
Lawyer Hasmik Harutyunyan, who has documented human rights violations in Nagorno-Karabakh since 2016, provided details on the ill-treatment and abuse faced by detainees. These include beatings, cigarette burns, electric shocks, and lack of medical care for hospitalized prisoners. “Those prisoners of war who had cross tattoos were burned,” she noted. Azerbaijani authorities failed to properly investigate allegations of torture and cruel treatment or hold perpetrators accountable, even in well-documented cases.
Lawyer Gurgen Petrosyan addressed the crimes committed by Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh and its citizens, emphasizing the issue of international accountability for forced displacement and persecution. “Every unpunished international crime increases the risk of future waves of violence,” said Petrosyan.
In conclusion, Thibault van den Bosch of the European Centre for Law and Justice stated that it is “paradoxical” that Azerbaijan, a country responsible for numerous human rights violations in Nagorno-Karabakh and a consistent failure to uphold its international obligations, is being allowed to host the UN Climate Change Conference COP29.