The Armenian prisoners
During the mass exodus of hundreds of thousands of Armenians from the capital city (Stepanakert), the Azerbaijani Government illegally detained 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.
On February 5, 2026, Azerbaijani authorities announced a series of verdicts against unlawfully detained Armenians following judicial proceedings in Baku that were marked by numerous violations of due process and fair trial standards.
Arayik Harutyunyan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, Davit Manukyan, and Davit Babayan were sentenced to life imprisonment.
Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan were each sentenced to 20 years in prison due to age-related provisions in Azerbaijani law.
In the same proceedings, Armenian prisoners of war also received lengthy sentences:
- Madat Babayan and Melikset Pashayan – 19 years;
- Davit Allahverdian – 16 years;
- Erik Ghazaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan, and Vasily Beglaryan – 15 years;
- Garik Martirosyan – 18 years.
Earlier, on January 14, 2026, Azerbaijan released four unlawfully detained Armenian prisoners of war – Vagif Khachatryan, Vigen Euljekjian, Gevorg Sujyan, and Davit Davtyan – in exchange for two Syrian mercenaries captured by Armenian forces in November 2020 while fighting for Azerbaijan during the 2020 war against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh).
The four Armenians were non-combatants who had faced politically motivated charges and potential prison terms of up to 15 years. Vagif Khachatryan had been abducted in 2023 during an ICRC medical evacuation; Vigen Euljekjian, a Lebanese national, had been detained since 2020 after being captured in the Lachin Corridor following the ceasefire; Gevorg Sujyan and Davit Davtyan were seized a day after the ceasefire despite being civilians and founders of a charitable NGO.
The two Syrian mercenaries released by Armenia had admitted during their trial that they had been recruited to fight for Azerbaijan and had received material incentives, including for acts of extreme violence.
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 is deeply troubling to see Azerbaijan listed as a party to these international legal frameworks while acting in ways that contradict their fundamental obligations.
