Families of Armenian POWs held in Baku have sent an open letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during his visit to Yerevan for the European Political Community Summit, asking for support in securing the release of their relatives. The appeal comes as international attention is focused on Armenia, where leaders gathered to discuss regional and global issues.
Today, after the conclusion of the European Political Community Summit, The Armenian Report’s Ani Khachatryan tried to find out whether the prime minister would respond to the families’ letter. However, he did not answer the question and left the area without comment.
In their letter addressed to the Canadian prime minister, the families raised what they described as an urgent humanitarian issue. They stated that 19 Armenian prisoners are still being held in Azerbaijan and called for their immediate and unconditional release. They noted that several international organizations, including the European Parliament, have already made similar calls, but the detainees remain in custody.
The families highlighted Canada’s role in addressing cases of arbitrary detention and hostage diplomacy. They referred to Canada’s creation of a Senior Official for Hostage Affairs and its involvement in international efforts against unlawful detention between states. According to the letter, the situation of the Armenian prisoners fits within the scope of these commitments.
Concerns were also raised about the conditions in which the prisoners are being held. The families pointed to reports of serious human rights violations and said that legal proceedings against the detainees have been widely criticized as not meeting fair trial standards. They also mentioned that Azerbaijani officials have indicated they do not plan to release former officials of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Another issue raised in the letter was the suspension of the physical presence of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Azerbaijan. The families said this has made it difficult for them to receive regular and impartial updates about the condition of their relatives.
The letter also placed the issue in a broader context of peace and reconciliation. It stated that long-term peace cannot be built while people are held in detention and their families continue to suffer. It argued that the release of the prisoners is necessary for building trust and for any meaningful peace process in the region.
The families called on the Canadian prime minister to take concrete steps, including involving Canada’s Senior Official for Hostage Affairs in the matter and using diplomatic channels with partners such as the European Union and the United States to increase pressure on Azerbaijan. They also asked him to meet with the families and raise the issue in discussions with other leaders.
They referred to the Canadian prime minister’s past statements about values-based realism, emphasizing human rights, sovereignty, and the rule of law. The letter argued that the continued detention of Armenian prisoners should be addressed in line with those principles.
The appeal concluded with a request for Canada’s support in ensuring the prisoners’ release and safe return home, describing this as essential for justice, stability, and confidence in the peace process.
The issue of Armenian detainees in Baku remains a sensitive and unresolved matter, closely tied to broader tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan and ongoing efforts to establish lasting peace in the region.
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