Over twenty Armenian human rights and civil society organizations have issued an open letter to U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, urging him to support the release of Christian Armenian captives held in Baku. The appeal comes ahead of Vance’s planned visits to Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The letter states that recent life and long-term prison sentences handed down in politically motivated trials are incompatible with any credible peace agenda.
“We welcome your visit to Armenia and hope it contributes to deepening U.S.–Armenia ties and promoting sustainable peace in the region,” the NGOs wrote.
Highlighting that Vance will visit both countries, the signatories drew his attention to the “urgent humanitarian issue” of the detainees. They emphasized that the recent repatriation of four prisoners showed how important this matter is to Armenian society.
“The release and return of all Armenians imprisoned in the context of armed conflict is essential to the peace process and a key step toward trust-building. Unfortunately, 19 Christian Armenians remain imprisoned and continue to suffer in Azerbaijani jails,” the letter states.
The NGOs referenced the 2025 pre-signing of a Peace Agreement in Washington, led by President Donald J. Trump, during which the detainee issue was raised. They called on the current U.S. administration to take active steps to ensure their return, stressing the urgency amid disturbing Azerbaijani statements signaling no intent to release former Artsakh officials.
“The latest life and long-term prison sentences, handed down in sham trials violating the principles of due process, are starkly at odds with the peace narrative,” the letter warns.
Noting President Trump’s past emphasis on defending persecuted Christians, the signatories urged the current administration to leverage its influence, stating that the U.S. can play a decisive role in resolving this humanitarian crisis.
“Peace efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan will not be credible to the Armenian public as long as Armenians continue to suffer behind bars in Baku,” the NGOs said.
They concluded by urging Vance and the U.S. government to take meaningful steps to reunite detainees with their families, emphasizing that humanitarian progress is essential for building lasting peace and trust between nations.
The letter was signed by the following organizations: International and Comparative Law Center, Protection of Rights without Borders, Transparency International Anticorruption Center, Foundation for the Development and Protection of Law, Agenda for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Dignity Humanitarian NGO, Helsinki Association for Human Rights, Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office, Peace Dialogue NGO, Public Journalism Club, Armenian Progressive Youth, Journalists for Human Rights, Community Consolidation and Support Center, New Culture of Justice NGO, Social Justice NGO, Equal Rights NGO, Union for the Defense of the Rights and Interests of the People of Artsakh, Mission Armenia, Against Legal Arbitrariness NGO, and ARBANE Foundation.
Former Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan has been sentenced to life imprisonment. Also sentenced to life were former Defense Army Commander Levon Mnatsakanyan, his first deputy David Manukyan, former Foreign Minister David Babayan, and National Assembly Speaker David Ishkhanyan.
Former Presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan received 20-year sentences. Madat Babayan and Melikset Pashayan were sentenced to 19 years, Garik Martirosyan to 18, David Alaverdyan and Levon Balayan to 16, and Erik Ghazaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan, and Vasil Beglaryan to 15 years.
