As the world reels around economic hardship, political divisiveness, and ongoing conflicts, 23 men sit in blackened cells in Baku, Azerbaijan. Former presidents, leaders, and humanitarian heroes from the Republic of Artsakh are currently facing imprisonment and sham trials in Azerbaijan in the face of continued inaction from the international community. The Azeri government charges these men with fabricated claims, including terrorism. Their only “crime” is their loyalty to the Republic of Artsakh and the right of the Armenian people to self-determination.
As evidenced by their court appearances, many of the detainees are subject to torture and malnutrition. The inherent corruption and Armenophobia within the so-called “justice” system of Azerbaijan prevents Artsakh’s leaders from proper legal representation. Through these show trials, Azeri President Ilham Aliyev attempts to draw false confessions from the prisoners and fuel the flames of Armenophobia in his country.
The full list of Armenian hostages illegally detained in Azerbaijan consists of 23 individuals. Six hostages, Davit Davtyan, Gevorg Sujyan, Vicken Euljekjian, Lyudvig Mkrtchyan, Madat Babayan, and Aiyesha Khosrovyan, were taken hostage during the 2020 44-Day War. Rashid Beglaryan and Vagif Khachatryan were detained during Azerbaijan’s illegal blockade of Artsakh from 2022 to 2023. The blockade, which lasted nine long months, deprived Artsakh’s citizens of life-saving resources, including food, water, energy, and medical supplies.
Azerbaijan then launched an unprovoked aggression, invaded, and occupied the Republic of Artsakh in September 2023, resulting in the expulsion of over 120,000 Armenians from their native land and taking an additional 15 hostages, eight of whom served in high-ranking positions within the government or humanitarian organizations.
The seven innocent civilian hostages are Erik Ghazaryan, Davit Allahverdyan, Gurgen Stepanyan, Levon Balayan, Garik Martrosyan, Melikset Pashayan, and Vasili Beglaryan.
Azerbaijan also illegally detained prominent political figures following its occupation, including former presidents of Artsakh, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, and Arayik Harutunyan. Parliament Speaker Davit Ishkhanyan, former Artsakh Defense Army commander Levon Mnatsakanyan, former Foreign Minister Davit Babayan, and deputy commander Davit Manukyan are also imprisoned.
Finally, Azerbaijan detained Ruben Vardanyan, a prominent Armenian humanitarian, philanthropist, and advocate, who served as the former State Minister of Artsakh. Vardanyan was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2024 and co-funded the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity, a million-dollar global award recognizing those who champion humanitarian causes. Vardanyan is currently engaged in a hunger strike to protest his imprisonment and trial, leading to worsening health conditions as the protest passes its 15th day.
Despite the inhumane conditions of their captivity, many detainees continue to advocate for Artsakh’s right to self-determination. Mnatsakanyan, in particular, reaffirmed his commitment to Artsakh’s struggle, defending his role in the fight for its independence.
Sahakyan, Artsakh’s third and longest-serving president, rejected the criminal charges levied against him. He asserted that the Artsakh Movement, which began in 1988, was based on the rights and principles enshrined by the Soviet Union’s constitution and the United Nations Charter. Under this pretext, Sahakyan essentially stated that neither he nor his compatriots could be charged, as they had not committed any illegal acts.
The false imprisonment and sham trials of the leaders and people of Artsakh are a direct attack on the Armenian people’s right to self-determination and the right to exist freely in their homeland. Azerbaijan’s deployment of torture, malnourishment, and judicial corruption demonstrates the urgent need for intervention from the international community.
Against all logic and without regard for basic human rights, the international community has not only stayed silent regarding the freedom of the illegally detained prisoners, but they have also allowed the autocratic leadership of Azerbaijan to expel the International Committee of the Red Cross. The ICRC was a vital link for the detainees with the outside world and without their visits, the Armenian prisoners are severed from external contact.
The ANCA-WR calls on the international community to break its silence and join its advocacy for the release of the 23 Armenian hostages detained in Baku, as well as any possible forcibly disappeared individuals that Azerbaijan has yet to disclose. The hostages are forever in our thoughts and the goal of their liberation fuels our work.
This press release was written by Anthony Aroyan, an ANCA-WR intern of the Spring 2025 Internship Program.