Lemkin Institute Urges Action, Fears Retribution Against Armenian POWs by Azerbaijan

The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention has sounded an alarm regarding the precarious situation faced by Armenian officials and civilians from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) currently held in captivity by Azerbaijan. Expressing grave concern over the unlawful imprisonment of these individuals, the institute has called upon the international community to intervene urgently to ensure their prompt and safe return.

In a strongly worded statement, the Lemkin Institute highlighted the heightened risk of severe human rights violations, including the potential loss of life, faced by Armenian captives in Azerbaijan. The institute emphasized the pressing need for a strong international presence to safeguard the rights and well-being of these individuals.

Specifically, the Lemkin Institute highlighted the detention of eight high-ranking officials from Artsakh by Azerbaijan. Among those detained are notable figures such as Ruben Vardanyan, former State Minister of Artsakh, and Major General Davit Manukyan, former First Deputy Commander of the Artsakh Defense Army.

Of particular concern to the institute is the plight of Ruben Vardanyan, described as a vocal advocate for Artsakh's right to self-determination. The institute highlighted Azerbaijan's animosity towards Vardanyan, noting his significant role in advocating for Artsakh's independence.

Earlier protests by the Lemkin Institute against Vardanyan's sentencing to "preventive detention" underscored fears of fabricated claims and potential lengthy prison sentences. The institute voiced apprehension that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's regime may target Vardanyan and other high-ranking officials as a means of setting an example and quashing dissent.

In a renewed call to action, the Lemkin Institute urged the international community to exert pressure on President Aliyev's regime to release all Armenian civilians and prisoners of war without delay. Additionally, the institute cautioned against any form of assistance that could exacerbate the suffering of victims or embolden Azerbaijan to perpetrate further unlawful acts against Armenian territory.