Armenian Prisoners Detained in Baku: Form a United Front for Their Release and the Protection of Their Rights (LIBERTAS)
Yerevan, October 16, 2026
In response to the detention of 20 Armenian prisoners in Baku, an international conference in Yerevan calls for increased mobilization in Armenia and among the diaspora, for strengthening international legal remedies, and for developing public policies to protect the prisoners and their families.
At the initiative of the Covcas Center for Law and Conflict Resolution, as part of its LIBERTAS campaign, a multidisciplinary international conference was held on October 16 in Yerevan, focusing on Armenian prisoners detained in Baku and the challenges faced by released prisoners and their families.
The discussions addressed legal remedies before international courts, mechanisms for the international protection of prisoners — regardless of the issue of international recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh — as well as trials and violations of their rights. The psychological consequences of captivity, including trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder, were also examined, as were the public policies needed to recognize and protect current and former prisoners and their loved ones.
The conference featured a preview screening of the documentary film Prisoners of War by filmmaker Tigran Paskevichian, which added an extra dimension to this reflection on captivity and the fate of detainees.
“Uniting Around the Families”: A Call for Collective Action
Hilda Tchoboian, president of the Covcas Center and founder of the LIBERTAS movement, called on Armenian society — both in Armenia and in the diaspora — to unite around the prisoners families. The goal: to strengthen their efforts, increase their ability to hold public authorities accountable, and create a genuine mass movement capable of influencing government decisions and intensifying efforts toward the prisoners release.
The conference underscored the urgency of transforming scattered mobilizations into collective, visible, and sustainable action. It also reiterated that release does not put an end to the hardships: former detainees and their families need recognition, protection, and support tailored to the consequences of captivity.
The prisoners’ freedom, the defense of their rights, and the reintegration of those released cannot rest solely on the families. They require a collective commitment and public accountability commensurate with the stakes.
