The Armenian prisoners

During the mass exodus of hundreds of thousands of Armenians from the capital city (Stepanakert), the Azerbaijani Government arrested eight former members of the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh’s government and advocates for the self-determination of Artsakh. Those detained include Ruben Vardanyan, an Armenian businessman and philanthropist who served as the State Minister of the Artsakh government; three former presidents of the Republic, Arayik Harutyunyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan; and other former officials, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, David Ishkanyan, and Davit Manukyan.

These individuals and the remaining prisoners are being detained in clear violation of a range of domestic and international laws. These include:

• The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
• The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
• The Geneva (III) Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War (1949)
• International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
• Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
• International Convention against Taking of Hostages

It’s shocking to see Azerbaijan listed as a party to these frameworks yet choosing to violate them so blatantly.