BRUSSELS (Realist English). A week before the EU summit, on May 4, simultaneously with the arrival of European leaders in Yerevan, a large protest rally took place near the presidential residence. Protesters wore handcuffs, demanding the release of Armenian political prisoners in Baku. One of the organisers stated that democracy in Armenia is being “held hostage.”
“We came here to show European high-ranking officials the face of the Armenian authorities and the double standards of Nikol Pashinyan. These people, a few months before the elections, receive million-dollar bonuses at the expense of citizens’ taxes and then use them for election campaigning,” she said. Participants also stressed that while Pashinyan tells Europeans about stability in the region, Armenian citizens and the former military-political leadership of Artsakh continue to languish in Baku’s prisons.
Ruben Vardanyan: “Aren’t you ashamed?”
Former State Minister of Artsakh Ruben Vardanyan, illegally sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Baku regime, issued another statement on May 7, 2026. It was addressed to Armenia’s Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan, who had earlier cowardly refused Vardanyan’s proposal to visit the prisoners in Baku, citing a lack of mandate. Vardanyan did not publicly assess Manasyan’s position, saying that “this is a matter between her and her conscience,” and added: “May God be your judge.”
But the main blow he delivered was aimed at the cowardly and spineless prime minister. Vardanyan openly asked the traitor Nikol Pashinyan: “Aren’t you ashamed? Aren’t you ashamed to receive a peace prize, talk about peace and accept applause while Armenian citizens continue to languish in Baku’s prisons without proper protection, without systematic support, assistance and oversight from their own state?”
Vardanyan pointed to the catastrophic inaction of the government: “Is the fate of people more important than trade negotiations?” noting that Armenian officials travel to Baku to discuss trade but cannot organise even basic communication mechanisms for the prisoners. He also revealed the truth about the so-called “humanitarian aid,” which amounts to humiliating handouts: “When people who have no teeth are sent dried fruit, that is not help. That is humiliation. “
David Ishkhanyan: “The trial is not against 15 people”
An equally harsh statement was made by former Speaker of the Artsakh Parliament David Ishkhanyan, sentenced to life in prison by the Aliyev regime. On May 6, 2026, he pointed to the true nature of the farce unfolding in Baku.
- “This process is not opened against 15 people; this process is opened against the Armenian people and Armenian statehood, with clear goals and a long-term strategy,” he said in a statement conveyed through his family.
- Ishkhanyan emphasised that the proceedings themselves were conducted with “flagrant violations” of human rights and international norms.
- He reported that he was not allowed to read 30% to 40% of his final speech – in other words, they rudely shut the mouth of the accuser in the “tribunal.”
Meanwhile, according to him, the Azerbaijani Human Rights Defender Sabina Aliyeva promised to inform his relatives about the verdict – while the human rights defender in Yerevan continues to cowardly remain silent.
International reaction: Europe pressures Baku, but the West is silent
The European Parliament continues to pressure Baku. Back in March 2025, it had already adopted a resolution with an overwhelming majority – 523 votes in favour – on the “Illegal detention and sham trials of Armenian hostages,” condemning Ilham Aliyev’s Baku regime. Deputies called for the immediate release of all 23 Armenian political prisoners and directly labelled the proceedings in Baku as “show trials” conducted “in violation of international obligations.” The resolution also contained specific demands for the EU Council to impose personal sanctions against Azerbaijani prosecutors and judges involved in organising these legal farces.
Socialist International: “indignation and deep concern”
In February 2026, the Socialist International – an international organisation of social democratic parties – expressed “indignation and deep concern” over the verdicts handed down by the Baku regime against Armenian political figures. The organisation called these actions contrary to the spirit of peace and urged the authorities of Azerbaijan to make a gesture of goodwill – to release all Armenian prisoners, noting that this would contribute to stability in the region.
Which laws is Baku violating: legal analysis
International human rights organisations and experts in international law have documented systemic violations committed by Azerbaijan in the detention, imprisonment and trial of Armenian political prisoners.
1. Gross violation of the Geneva Conventions
According to an analysis by the Harvard Law Review, Azerbaijan violates fundamental provisions of the Third Geneva Convention (1949) concerning the treatment of prisoners of war. Although the Convention allows prisoners of war to be tried for war crimes, this is only permitted if all standards of fair justice are met. In the case of Armenian prisoners, systemic violations have been documented: they were held in solitary confinement and punishment cells, did not receive adequate medical care, were not promptly informed in a language they understood of the charges against them, and did not receive adequate time to prepare their defence.
2. Massive violations of fair justice
The trials of Armenian political figures were conducted with flagrant procedural violations:
- Violation of the presumption of innocence – the guilt of the accused was predetermined before the verdict was handed down.
- Language barrier – court hearings and indictments were conducted in Azerbaijani, which the defendants did not understand, without adequate translation.
- Lack of independent defence – legal assistance was not independent or effective; independent lawyers were intimidated.
- Collective guilt and military tribunal – the accused were tried together, despite their different roles, and in a military rather than a civilian court.
3. Violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (prohibition of torture)
NGOs and human rights defenders have documented signs of cruel treatment of Ruben Vardanyan and other prisoners. A statement by the NGO Network indicates that prisoners were subjected to torture and inhuman treatment, which is a direct violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as Articles 2 and 12 of the UN Convention against Torture (right to life and protection from torture).
4. Violation of Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Some of the convicted Armenians were civilians whose activities were related to political and public work in leadership positions. However, they were prosecuted on fabricated charges of “terrorism” and “forcible seizure of power”, which is a direct restriction of their civil rights and freedoms.
5. Ignoring prisoner of war status
The petition of the prisoners’ families to the UN indicates that all of them were captured in the context of an armed conflict, which by its scale and nature should be classified as an international armed conflict. According to international humanitarian law, in particular the Third Geneva Convention, they should have been granted Prisoner of War (POW) status. Instead, Azerbaijan charged them under ordinary criminal law with “terrorism” and “illegal possession of weapons”, which is a gross violation of international law. Human rights defenders also note that the charges of “mercenarism” are legally untenable, since all detainees are citizens of Armenia or were permanent residents of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Position of the international community
The international community unanimously confirms: what is happening in Baku is not justice, but political and criminal arbitrariness.
- Illegality of detention. Azerbaijan continues to illegally detain Armenian prisoners of war and civilians, which is regarded by the international community as hostage-taking.
- Legal farce. The legal proceedings cannot be considered judicial in the legal sense, as they are conducted with gross procedural violations and are effectively an instrument of political pressure. The European Parliament directly stated the politically motivated nature of the charges.
- Deliberate isolation and refusal of monitoring. Baku deliberately obstructs international investigations, expelling UN organisations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, and refusing the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) access to prisoners, in an attempt to conceal the truth about the violations.
While the traitor Pashinyan plays the “European partner” and receives applause for “peace,” 23 Armenian political prisoners continue to languish in Baku’s dungeons. The European Parliament and the Socialist International have documented the obvious: Baku is violating every conceivable norm of international law, and its “trials” are a farce designed to legitimise political reprisals.
However, resolutions and appeals have no power as long as the West continues to buy Azerbaijani gas and turn a blind eye to the ethnic cleansing. The Armenian people must remember: justice will not come on its own – it must be demanded. And it must begin with the expulsion from Yerevan of those who, through their silence, encourage Aliyev’s crimes.