Armenian MP Lilit Galstian Calls for OSCE PA Humanitarian Mission to Visit Armenian Detainees in Baku
Lilit Galstian, Chair of the Standing Committee on Human Rights Protection and Public Affairs of the National Assembly of Armenia and a member of Armenia’s delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, has issued an urgent humanitarian appeal calling on the OSCE PA to organize a mission to Baku to visit Armenian prisoners of war and other Armenian detainees held in Azerbaijan.
In her letter, Galstian points to the closed-door proceedings, the absence of family visits, the lack of access by international monitoring bodies, and serious concerns regarding the detainees’ physical and psychological well-being. Referring to the commitments set out in the OSCE PA’s 2025 Porto Declaration, she calls for a delegation to meet the Armenian detainees and assess their humanitarian and human rights situation.
Galstian stresses that the proposed mission is a humanitarian rather than political initiative and says she is prepared to travel to Baku personally and alone, if necessary.
The full text of her appeal is published below.
Dear Sir,
I am writing to you as a Member of the Delegation of the Republic of Armenia to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and as Chair of the Standing Committee on Human Rights Protection and Public Affairs of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, on an urgent humanitarian appeal.
For nearly three years, the trials of the Armenian prisoners of war and other Armenian detainees held in Azerbaijan have been conducted behind closed doors. Their families have been deprived of the opportunity to visit their loved ones. The fragmented information received through European Court of Human Rights, as well as occasional phone conversations with the families, raise serious concerns regarding the physical and psychological well-being of the Armenians hostages.
No international humanitarian visit has been permitted during this entire period. For nearly a year access by the International Committee of the Red Cross to the detainees has been denied. No international monitoring body, nor a neutral third party has been able to visit the Armenian POWs and hostages. This situation directly concerns the humanitarian dimension of the OSCE and the responsibilities of its parliamentary institutions to uphold human rights, human dignity and humanitarian principles.
In this regard, I would like to draw your particular attention to paragraphs 208 and 209 of the OSCE PA’s 2025 Porto Declaration that calls on the OSCE PA to develop a framework for observing and highlighting cases of incarcerated persons, including through official visits and inspections of their condition and advocacy for their rights. Paragraph 209 specifically calls for safeguarding the rights of all persons affected by the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan and stresses the need for the fair and humane treatment of prisoners of war and ot her detainees, in accordance with international human rights and humanitarian law.
I believe that an OSCE PA humanitarian visit to Baku composed of Parliamentary Assembly delegates would, therefore, be a concrete and meaningful expression of these commitments. I respectfully ask you to support and facilitate organizing such a visit, with the purpose of meeting the Armenian detainees and assessing their humanitarian and human rights situation.
The mission fully falls within OSCE principles encouraging reconciliation and peaceful co-operation, as well as the peaceful resolution of tensions and disputes.
I am prepared to travel to Baku personally and alone, if necessary.
It is of utmost importance to realize that this is not a political endeavor but a humanitarian initiative that can mark a powerful step and concrete measure in building trust toward a genuine peace process.
I, therefore, kindly request that such a visit be organized as an urgent necessity for the sake of ensuring safety and well-being of those Armenians held in Azerbaijani detention, and appeal for your personal involvement and support in securing the necessary guarantees for safe access, security and return of the members of the mission.
I thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this matter and all efforts for its realization.
Yours sincerely,
Lilit Galstian
Chair, Standing Committee on Human Rights Protection and Public Affairs
National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia
Member of the Delegation of the Republic of Armenia to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
