Free Armenian Hostages

We advocate for the release of Armenian hostages detained by Azerbaijan, highlighting violations of internationall laws and self-determination for Artsakh.

[Free Armenian Hostages @FreeAMhostages]

#FreeArmenianHostages

[ANCA @ANCA_DC]

Resolution adopted unanimously by the Socialist International (@Soc_Intl) Council (Malta, 2025) on the Situation in and around Nagorno-Karabakh:

The Socialist International reaffirms that to secure peace in Nagorno-Karabakh, a number of important parameters must be taken into account. The conflict cannot be resolved by military means and the process to be successful must include:

a) Guarantee the voluntary, safe, dignified, unhindered, and internationally guaranteed return of all those displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh since the 2020 war and after September 19, 2023, ensuring full protection from any form of intimidation or coercion.

b) Facilitate the immediate release of the 23 remaining Armenian detainees in Baku, including Davit Ishkhanyan—participant in the XXVI Congress of the Socialist International (Madrid, 2022)—and ensure that all de facto closed-door and politically motivated legal proceedings in the Military Court of Baku are transparent and consistent with international standards.

c) Prevent the destruction or alteration of Armenian religious and cultural heritage in and around Nagorno-Karabakh and safeguard the region’s historical legacy.

The Socialist International remains committed to promoting constructive dialogue and supporting a comprehensive, inclusive, and durable peace that upholds justice, human rights, and the dignity of all peoples in the region.

[Jonathan Spangenberg #FreeArmenianHostages @ArtSpangenberg]

Prominent Human Rights Lawyers @AitorxMartinez Aitor Martínez — Known for Defending Julian Assange — and María Luciana Minassian Petition United Nations for the Immediate Release of Arbitrarily Detained Armenian Civilian

Madrid / Buenos Aires — Aitor Martínez Jiménez, the distinguished Spanish human rights lawyer internationally recognized for his defense of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, and María Luciana Minassian, a respected Argentine attorney and human rights advocate, have jointly filed an urgent petition before the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD). The petition demands the immediate release of Vicken Euljekjian, an Armenian civilian unlawfully imprisoned in Azerbaijan since 2020. The legal team asserts that Euljekjian’s detention constitutes a severe violation of international law and urges the United Nations to take swift action to secure his freedom.

The legal representatives of Vicken Euljekjian, a 46-year-old Armenian tour guide arbitrarily detained in Azerbaijan, have formally requested the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) to order his immediate release, citing grave violations of international law and severe detention conditions that endanger his life.

Euljekjian was arrested on 10 November 2020 in Shushi (Nagorno-Karabakh), one day after the ceasefire that ended the 2020 Armenia-Azerbaijan war. On 14 June 2021, the Baku Military Court sentenced him to 20 years in prisonon charges of “mercenary activity” and “terrorism.” His lawyers argue that his detention and conviction are arbitrary and violate fundamental human rights protections.

The petition, submitted by María Luciana Minassian (Argentina) and Aitor Martínez Jiménez (Spain), advances two key arguments:

1. Jurisdictional violation: Azerbaijan treated Euljekjian as a civilian, yet a military court tried and convicted him, contrary to established UNWGAD precedent that military courts lack jurisdiction over civilians.

2. Misapplication of the “mercenary” charge: As an Armenian national, Euljekjian cannot be legally classified as a mercenary under the Geneva Conventions.

Additionally, his lawyers have requested the recusal of WGAD member Ganna Yudkivska due to potential conflicts of interest arising from her professional association with the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and personal ties to Azerbaijan. The petition references an expert opinion by the founding Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Luis Moreno Ocampo, and a formal complaint submitted by the Center for Truth and Justice (CFTJ), a Los Angeles-based organization defending the rights of Armenians affected by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

#FreeVicken
#FreeArmenianHostages

[Artak Beglaryan | #StopArtsakhGenocide @Artak_Beglaryan]

“The question of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh is not one of borders or ethnicity, but of the universality of human rights,” say 23 international parliamentarians. @lemonde

On the occasion of the 2nd anniversary of the International Court of Justice’s order of November 17, 2023, in an article for French leading newspaper Le   Monde, 23 parliamentarians from several countries call for respect for international law and for the return of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh—something that has still not taken place despite international decisions in that direction. The full translation of the article is provided below:
“On 17 November 2023, the International Court of Justice issued a ruling ordering Azerbaijan to promptly ensure the safe, dignified, and unimpeded return of the displaced Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, the protection of their property, and the preservation of their heritage. This decision, taken in the name of international law, prevails over any political consideration, treaty, or bilateral agreement. And yet, two years later, it remains a dead letter.
No action has been undertaken to allow the displaced to return to their homes, protect their rights, or document the state of the towns and villages they left. The property and cultural heritage of Armenians continue to be destroyed, altered, or reassigned in Nagorno-Karabakh, with the aim of erasing all traces of their presence and memory. This passivity of international bodies and states is troubling—especially at a time when other populations around the world face similar threats. Will inaction serve to condone what international law has clearly defined as a crime against humanity and ethnic cleansing?
Let us recall the facts. On 19 September 2023, after nine months of a total blockade aimed at emptying the region of its inhabitants, Azerbaijan launched a decisive military offensive in the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. Within a few days, the last 120,000 Armenians of the territory—exhausted by famine, deprivation, and lack of care, and terrified by acts of violence committed against civilians—were forced into exile.
To this day, no political response commensurate with the gravity of the crime has been provided. The reality of power dynamics cannot suspend the application of international law: the right of the inhabitants of Nagorno-Karabakh to return transcends geopolitical considerations and remains a collective responsibility recognized by international conventions.
Confusion between Peace and Injustice
International law is clear: Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights recognizes everyone’s right to enter their own country. This right does not depend on formal nationality, but on a deep and lasting connection to a land, a culture, a memory. This right does not belong to states, but to individuals. No authority—through inaction or renunciation—may deprive the rightful holders of it.
The confusion between peace and injustice lies at the heart of the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, signed on 8 August in Washington. Presented as a historic text. This agreement, nonetheless, includes neither the return of forcibly displaced persons, nor the release of prisoners of war, nor the protection of Armenian cultural heritage. In effect, it validates the consequences of ethnic cleansing, while strengthening the strategic position of Baku and its allies. What kind of peace, built upon bargains and the erasure of law, can endure?
And above all, what Pandora’s box are democracies opening when they remain silent in the face of a crime of such magnitude? What value does international law hold if they are the first to sweep aside such an obvious violation? The question of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh is not an issue of borders or ethnicity, but of the universality of human rights and the credibility of those who claim to defend them.
Denying the rights of these forcibly displaced people simply because they are Armenian, or leaving it entirely to the Republic of Armenia to defend them, would mean rejecting the very idea of universality of human rights. Human rights are not political stances, they are obligations that apply to all states and rise above any alliance. This is why we, parliamentarians from various countries, affirm that defending the right of return of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, protecting their heritage, and ensuring justice for the victims constitute a shared responsibility—one grounded in our values and essential for the preservation of peace and justice in the world.
Within national parliaments as well as in the European Parliament, converging reflections are emerging so that the commitments enshrined in international conventions may finally take concrete form: guaranteeing the right of return of the displaced, protecting threatened cultural heritage, and prosecuting those responsible for the violations committed. Initiatives are being organized to uphold this shared responsibility and to restore respect for the law at the center of political actions.
Justice begins where consciences refuse to look away. No peace can be born of forgetting.”
The signatories:
European Parliament
1.       François-Xavier Bellamy, Member of the European Parliament (France), LR;
2.       Nathalie Loiseau, Member of the European Parliament (France), Horizons;
3.       Murielle Laurent, Member of the European Parliament (France), PS;
4.       Loucas Fourlas – Member of the European Parliament (Cyprus), Christian Democrat;
5.       Geadis Geadi, Member of the European Parliament (Cyprus), European Conservatives and Reformists;
6.       Costas Mavrides, Member of the European Parliament (Cyprus), Democratic Party;
France
7.       Étienne Blanc, French Senator for the Rhône, LR;
8.       Gilbert-Luc Devinaz, French Senator for the Rhône, PS;
9.       Emmanuel Mandon, French Deputy for the Loire, Les Démocrates;
10.   Alexandra Martin, French Deputy for Alpes-Maritimes, LR;
11.   Isabelle Santiago, French Deputy for Val-de-Marne, PS;
Switzerland
12.   Erich Vontobel, Swiss National Councillor, Federal Democratic Union;
13.   Alex Farinelli, Swiss National Councillor, Liberal-Radical Party;
14.   Stefan Müller-Altermatt, Swiss National Councillor, The Centre;
15.   Nicolas Walder, Swiss National Councillor, The Greens;
16.   Carlo Sommaruga, Member of the Swiss Council of States, Swiss Socialist Party;
Denmark
17.   Sjúrður Skaale, Denmark’s Parliament Member, Social Democratic Party;
18.   Anders Vistisen, Denmark’s Parliament Member, Danish People’s Party;
Cyprus
19.   Marios Mavridis, Member of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, Democratic Party;
Belgium
20.   Karl Vanlouwe, Member of the Belgian Senate;
Argentina
21.   Mónica Fein, Deputy of Argentina, Socialist Party;
22.   Esteban Paulón, Deputy of Argentina, Socialist Party;
Uruguay
23.   Gerardo Sotelo, Deputy of Uruguay, Independent Party;
https://t.co/8tC7QJ3BGG

[Luciana Minassian @MinassianOk]

SECOND AFFIDAVIT
Prisoner of war Vicken Euljekjian

(Second Affidavit – 16 November 2025)

We, Luciana Minassian and Linda Euljekjian, being duly authorized and competent to provide this sworn declaration, hereby state and affirm as follows:

1. Purpose of This Affidavit

This affidavit is submitted to document the urgent new information received today regarding the health, treatment, and living conditions of Mr. Vicken Euljekjian, an Armenian national detained in Umbaki Prison, Baku, Azerbaijan.

2. Phone Call Received Today

On this date, 16 November 2025, Mr. Vicken Euljekjian placed a brief telephone call to his family. This marks the first contact after more than forty-five (45) days during which Azerbaijani authorities prevented all communication.

3. Deterioration of Physical Condition

During the call, Mr. Euljekjian stated that:
•He can no longer walk,
•His physical condition has dramatically worsened,
•He now requires a wheelchair for mobility but has not been provided with one.

4. Denial of Medical Treatment

Mr. Euljekjian reported that he was taken to see a doctor but:
•The guards prevented him from receiving any medication,
•No treatment or remedy was administered despite his condition,
•He remains without medical care, in violation of basic humanitarian standards.

5. Food Deprivation

Mr. Euljekjian further reported that:
•The only food being provided to him is tea and bread,
•He is not receiving proper meals or nutrition,
•This appears to be deliberate deprivation and constitutes inhuman and degrading treatment.

This treatment is especially concerning in light of recent public remarks made by President Ilham Aliyev, who referenced “tea in Baku,” which the family perceives as mocking the suffering of Armenian detainees.

6. Legal and Humanitarian Concerns

These conditions—if verified—may constitute violations of:
•International humanitarian law
•The rights of detainees to humane treatment
•UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Mandela Rules)
•The prohibition of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment

The denial of medical care, food deprivation, obstruction of medication, and the refusal to provide a wheelchair pose a grave threat to Vicken’s health and life.

7. Request for Immediate International Intervention

We urgently request:
•Immediate independent medical evaluation,
•Humanitarian access by qualified international bodies,
•Provision of a wheelchair, proper nutrition, and essential medication,
•Notifications to UN Special Procedures, human rights organizations, and neutral monitors.

Luciana Minassian
Imán Arous (Linda) Euljekjian

@FreeArmHostages
@FreeArmenianPOW
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[Free Armenian Hostages @FreeAMhostages]

Armenian hostage Vicken Euljekjian enters fourth week of hunger strike

Euljekjian, 46, who was kidnapped by Azerbaijani troops five years ago, has been on a hunger strike for 21 days, CSI has learned.

#FreeArmenianHostages

https://t.co/Lw3XIfycFi

[Free Armenian Hostages @FreeAMhostages]

Baku’s UFC Debut: Global Sporting Platform Hijacked to Whitewash Genocide
UFC faces backlash for enabling Azerbaijan’s use of sport to distract from ethnic cleansing and ongoing human rights abuses.
https://t.co/g8AlLv5rj0

#FreeArmenianHostages

[Free Armenian Hostages @FreeAMhostages]

“A remarkable episode involving Davit Ishkhanyan during the fake trial in Azerbaijan”: Abrahamyan
"The entire course of trials for Armenians held in Azerbaijani prisons is riddled with a heavy dose of falsifications, from testimonies to translations."
#FreeArmenianHostages

https://t.co/ki3afUXWsW

[Free Armenian Hostages @FreeAMhostages]

The ‘Trials’ in Baku Is a Condemnation of Artsakh’s Right to Self-Determination” – Siranush Sahakyan
The staged judicial farce in Baku against the political and military leadership of Artsakh and other captives continues. The goal is clear: to portray the existential struggle of the people of Artsakh—aimed at resisting Azerbaijani genocidal actions and living safely in their ancestral homeland for millennia—as acts of terrorism.

https://t.co/i5GCucveMH

#FreeArmenianHostages

[Free Armenian Hostages @FreeAMhostages]

Free Armenian Hostages – Advocate for the release of the illegally held Armenian hostages in Azerbaijan

Follow the news about advocacy to defend their right and get them released.

Sign the petition to the OSCE.

https://t.co/KFWC8YG23r

#FreeArmenianHostages

[Free Armenian Hostages @FreeAMhostages]

“There can be no peace when an act of genocide has been committed against Artsakh and Armenians are being sentenced in Baku through fabricated charges,” said Jonathan Spangenberg.

https://t.co/fx5H8RtNLL
#FreeArmenianHostages

[Free Armenian Hostages @FreeAMhostages]

Every individual unlawfully detained in Baku’s prisons must be released without delay. Alvina Gyulumyan
"Freedom for all Armenian political prisoners and hostages: Every individual unlawfully held in Baku prisons must be released without delay. Their continued captivity is a grave injustice."
https://t.co/wdd1Z71r79
#FreeArmenianHostages

[Free Armenian Hostages @FreeAMhostages]

Displaced Artsakh Armenians Protest in Yerevan, Demand Action on Prisoners and Right of Return

https://t.co/vbxGTkfIWs
#FreeArmenianHostages

A group of displaced Artsakh Armenians staged a demonstration outside Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urging the government to take immediate and concrete steps to ensure the release of Armenian prisoners of war, safeguard cultural heritage, and protect the rights of displaced Artsakh Armenians. They also called for the preservation of the OSCE Minsk Group framework as a platform for political resolution.

[Free Armenian Hostages @FreeAMhostages]

Witnesses do not know Ruben Vardanyan, yet they still demand maximum punishment

https://t.co/cm5lztWNv9

#FreeArmenianHostages

[Free Armenian Hostages @FreeAMhostages]

CoE Human Rights Commissioner O’Flaherty highlights plight of Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan

https://t.co/fyUueis3tH

#FreeArmenianHostages

[Free Armenian Hostages @FreeArmHostages]

Photos from Zagreb! Thank you, Armenian-Croatian Community for your heartfelt prayers, church liturgies, petitions, and continuous support for all Armenian prisoners in Baku.
#FreeArmenianHostages

[Free Armenian Hostages @FreeAMhostages]

https://t.co/ihJfr8Oeaf

Խնդրում ենք ստորագրել խնդրագիրը՝ պահանջելով Բաքվում պահվող հայ գերիների համար արդարություն եւ նրանց ազատումը։

Please sign the petition demanding justice and freedom for Armenian captives held in Baku.

Merci de signer la pétition pour exiger justice et liberté pour les prisonniers arméniens détenus à Bakou.

Firma la petición para exigir justicia y libertad para los prisioneros armenios retenidos en Bakú.

Подпишите петицию за справедливость и освобождение армянских пленных, удерживаемых в Баку.

#FreeArmenianHostages

[Free Armenian Hostages @FreeAMhostages]

Armenian hostages in Baku are being denied their rights. It's time to speak up. ✊

Sign the petition & demand justice now: https://t.co/5vdEalNvoa

#FreeArmenianHostages #JusticeForArmenians #HumanRights

[Free Armenian Hostages @FreeAMhostages]

Signez la pétition :

Vous pouvez aider à libérer les otages arméniens à Bakou

https://t.co/yziPi3EIJx

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