A number of Armenian human rights organizations and representatives of civil society have appealed to international bodies, calling on them to initiate independent monitoring of the ongoing and forthcoming judicial proceedings in Azerbaijan.
Following the end of the 2020 Artsakh war, the Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020, signed by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia, provided for the exchange of prisoners of war, hostages, and other detained persons. Despite this, Azerbaijan continues to hold a number of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians, giving rise to serious concerns regarding the fulfillment of its obligations under international humanitarian law.
Azerbaijan confirms information regarding 23 Armenian detainees. Among them are individuals who have been held in captivity since 2020, as well as persons captured during or immediately after the military operations of September 2023. Most of them have been charged with terrorism and other similar offenses.
Human rights organizations also draw attention to the testimonies of individuals who have returned from captivity, as well as to medical and forensic documents, which indicate instances of torture and cruel treatment during Azerbaijani captivity.
These concerns have also been recorded by international bodies. In particular, in its 2024 concluding observations, the UN Committee against Torture expressed concern regarding reports of serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights committed against Armenian prisoners of war and other protected persons. The Committee also addressed the continuing detention of Armenians held in Azerbaijan and the criminal proceedings conducted against them.
Assessments by international organizations and expert bodies have repeatedly documented concerns regarding the lack of independence of Azerbaijan’s judicial system and its dependence on the executive branch. These circumstances, particularly in cases attracting significant public attention, raise additional doubts concerning the guarantees of a fair trial.
The same concerns have also been expressed by European institutions. In particular, in one of its 2024 resolutions, the European Parliament addressed the human rights situation in Azerbaijan and called for the release of Armenian detainees.
In this context, human rights defenders and representatives of civil society have called on specialized international bodies to initiate independent monitoring of the ongoing and forthcoming judicial proceedings in Azerbaijan. In their assessment, international observation could contribute to increasing the transparency of the trials, ensuring fair trial guarantees, and providing effective oversight of compliance with international human rights standards.
According to the authors of the initiative, the involvement of international monitoring missions could constitute an important factor in protecting the rights of Armenian prisoners of war and civilians, as well as in upholding the international principles of justice and the rule of law.