Armen Gevorgyan’s Speech at the PACE Committee Meeting on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development
Dear Colleagues,
There are disturbing reports that Armenian prisoners held in Baku are in a deep psychological state and have even attempted suicide following the suspension of visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross, a now stopped humanitarian operation. The prisoners have been in complete isolation for almost two months, and no independent international organization has visited them.
There is no information about their detention, health, or psychological condition. Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross last visited the Armenian prisoners of war in June. This international organization has permanently suspended its activities in Baku at the demand of the Azerbaijani authorities.
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Despite the Washington Declaration of August 8, 2025, I can note that there has been no progress in the release of prisoners. Just as Hamas holds hostages to gain leverage in negotiations, Ilham Aliyev holds Armenian prisoners, including former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh, as political pawns in the negotiation process.
These are not prisoners, but living instruments of political manipulation. It is clear that any peace is empty as long as there are prisoners, and that true stability cannot be built on the suffering of prisoners. It is time for this organization to:
• Demand immediate and unhindered access to the prisoners in Baku by the International Committee of the Red Cross and neutral third-party consular or humanitarian organizations.
• Demand the release of all prisoners.
• Take steps to impose targeted sanctions on Azerbaijani officials involved in these abuses and to support international investigations.
