I have addressed the issue of the protection of Armenian prisoners of war to the Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan. - Lilit Galstyan
12-09-2026 14:29 Armenia A comment
The Chairperson of the Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, Lilit Galstyan, wrote on her Facebook page.
«Recently, a new slap in the face from the former President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh, David Ishkhanyan, was heard from the Baku prison. The authorities of the Republic of Armenia have previously been addressed by Ruben Vardanyan and David Babayan regarding humanitarian and other rights issues from Baku.
The violation of the rights of Armenian prisoners of war held in Baku is limitless, and the facts regarding their torture are evident...
The protection and security of our compatriots, citizens of the Republic of Armenia, is a constitutional duty of the authorities of the Republic of Armenia and a matter of the Republic of Armenia and our collective dignity.
I have officially addressed the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia, Anahit Manasyan, with a letter regarding their protection, specifically expecting responses to the aforementioned issues.
1. What actions have you taken within the framework of humanitarian law to protect the rights of our compatriots?
2. What issues have you raised in your letter to the Human Rights Defender of Azerbaijan, and what response have you received?
3. Do you plan to address the Human Rights Defender of Azerbaijan to take relevant steps to provide our compatriots with judicial acts and guarantee their fundamental rights?
4. What steps have you taken within the framework of international cooperation to restore the violated rights of our compatriots unlawfully held in Azerbaijan, and what results have you recorded? Please present your upcoming steps in this regard.
The full text of the letter is as follows:
Dear Ms. Manasyan,
Since the 44-day war unleashed against the Republic of Artsakh in 2020, the Republic of Azerbaijan continues to unlawfully detain our compatriots through illegal actions and gross violations of international law. The alerts received from them are horrifying and testify to the brutal, inhumane treatment, torture, and other threats to their lives and health.
David Ishkhanyan, the former President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh, addressed you and the Human Rights Defender of Azerbaijan on September 9 of this year, presenting extremely concerning circumstances. David Ishkhanyan reports that he has not received the decisions of the military court in Baku, not even the Azerbaijani version, and they have not been published on any website.
«REGARDING THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS» According to Article 6, Part 1 of the 1950 Convention: «Everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial tribunal established by law in the determination of his civil rights and obligations or of any criminal charge against him.»
Article 3 of the same convention states: «No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.»
As of August 22, 2025, neither David Ishkhanyan nor the other prisoners of war are able to grant a power of attorney to their trusted person in the Republic of Armenia so that the latter can protect their interests in Armenia and abroad. He also notes that he applied to you on May 6 of this year, but has not received a response to date.
Ruben Vardanyan, in his message on April 21 of this year, requested to consider the possibility of visiting Baku for his wife, Veronika Zonabend, the relatives of other Armenian prisoners of war, and yourself.
David Babayan also expressed his concern regarding the ongoing illegal trials in Azerbaijan on August 19 of this year.
The UN Committee Against Torture highlighted its concern about the torture of Armenian prisoners of war in its 2024 report on Azerbaijan.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom noted in its 2026 annual report that Armenian Christian prisoners have been subjected to beatings and psychological abuse, deprived of medical assistance and proper nutrition, denied the provision of Bibles, and had cross tattoos removed through burning.
It should be noted that according to Article 118 of the Geneva Convention of August 12, 1949, «Prisoners of war shall be released and repatriated without delay after the cessation of active hostilities.»
Article 133, Part 1 of the Geneva Convention of August 12, 1949, regarding the protection of civilian populations in times of war, also states: «The transfer shall cease as soon as possible after the cessation of hostilities.»
According to Part 1 of Article 191 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia: «The Human Rights Defender is an independent official who, among other things, contributes to the restoration of violated rights and freedoms.»
The UN Paris Framework also establishes regulations that are, in essence, humanitarian in nature, aimed at protecting citizens' rights.
Given the fact that when other avenues of cooperation between states are closed, the cooperation between the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) is an important and decisive tool for the implementation of human rights monitoring. This allows National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) to raise concerns about the maintenance of human rights standards regarding the actions of another state by directly addressing that state's counterpart.
Let us also add that there are positive examples of cooperation between NHRIs operating on both sides of the conflict in the European context, including regarding prisoner exchanges, monitoring places of detention, exchanges around individual cases, training in the field of human rights, or the submission of reports.
Taking into account the above, the evident facts regarding torture, the alerts from our compatriots, as well as the obligation of public authority to ensure respect for and protection of citizens' fundamental rights and freedoms, I kindly ask you to respond to the following questions:
1. What actions have you taken within the framework of humanitarian law to protect the rights of our compatriots?
2. What issues have you raised in your letter to the Human Rights Defender of Azerbaijan, and what response have you received?
3. Do you plan to address the Human Rights Defender of Azerbaijan to take relevant steps to provide our compatriots with judicial acts and guarantee their fundamental rights?
4. What steps have you taken within the framework of international cooperation to restore the violated rights of our compatriots unlawfully held in Azerbaijan, and what results have you recorded? Please present your upcoming steps in this regard.
HUMAN RIGHTS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON
LILIT GALSTYAN »:
* This text was automatically translated by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
ENGLISH
