With the ICRC office now closed in Azerbaijan, families warn that at least 19 Armenian detainees are being held without access to relatives, independent lawyers, or impartial humanitarian monitoring, creating a grave risk of ill-treatment and enforced disappearance.

“Time is of the essence,” the letter states, urging Armenia to formally invite Switzerland to act as Protecting Power and calling on Switzerland and the ICRC to support this urgent step. “Continued inaction risks further aggravating the suffering of those unlawfully detained and increasing the threats to their lives and physical integrity”.

The decision follows repeated attempts by Azerbaijan to lift interim measures requiring it to report on prisoners health and detention conditions. On April 9, the Court rejected these requests and reaffirmed its demand for regular updates, medical records, and legal documentation, including judicial reasoning.

Armenian prisoners of war, civilians, and political figures from the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) continue to be held unlawfully in Azerbaijan. Many face politically motivated sham trials, conducted behind closed doors without independent observers, journalists, or proper legal defence, and are subjected to serious violations of due process, torture, and inhumane treatment.

These prisoners are not only unlawfully detained but effectively held as hostages, used to exert pressure on the Armenian population forcibly displaced from Artsakh. The release of four Armenian civilians in January 2026 demonstrated that international pressure works and must be sustained.

In a message relayed through relatives, he stressed that any visit must have “institutional and consistent character, with political backing,” and called on Armenia’s Human Rights Defender to engage directly and bring families of detainees.

Vardanyan highlighted that, following the expulsion of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Armenian prisoners have been left without humanitarian oversight, communication, or family contact.

It further calls for accountability for the destruction of Armenian cultural and religious heritage and supports the deployment of an international assessment mission. Adopted with a strong majority, the resolution reflects continued European concern over human rights violations, even as Azerbaijan threatens to suspend relations with the European Parliament.

The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (@eafjd) issued a statement welcoming the resolution, highlighting it “condemns the unjust detention of Armenian POWs and hostages, demanding their immediate release” and “calls for a safe, unimpeded, and dignified return for Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians under international guarantees”.

“Armenia’s future can and will only be determined by the Armenian people through the unimpeded exercise of their democratic rights; no foreign actor, especially Azerbaijan and Turkey, should be allowed to intervene in the internal dynamics of the Armenian Republic…It is imperative that the European Commission acts on the mandate which the European Parliament consistently provides on holding Azerbaijan accountable for its crimes”, said Kaspar Karampetian, EAFJD President.

She stressed that the continued detention of prisoners of war and hostages is incompatible with any genuine peace process, warning that “there can be no peace without justice.”

Baroness Cox called on Armenia, its partners, and the European Union to prioritise the immediate release of all Armenian prisoners, noting reports of treatment that violates international standards and fair trial rights.

Her letter also highlights concerns over freedom of religion and the protection of Armenian cultural and spiritual heritage, urging sustained international attention and action.

Built between 2005 and 2007 and consecrated by Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, the church was both a place of worship and a symbol of the revival of Armenian spiritual life in the city.

This destruction follows reports of other landmarks in Stepanakert being demolished, including the “Motherhood” monument and the “Theatrical Fountain,” further erasing the Armenian presence from the city.

ANC–International strongly condemns the destruction of the Holy Mother of God Cathedral (Surb Astvatsatsin) in occupied Stepanakert by Azerbaijani authorities. Occurring on the eve of the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, this act marks a serious escalation in the systematic erasure of Armenian cultural and spiritual heritage in Artsakh.

Consecrated in 2019, the cathedral symbolized the revival of Armenian religious life and the continuity of indigenous Armenian presence. Its destruction—confirmed by satellite imagery—follows earlier attacks on Armenian cultural and religious sites and reflects a broader, deliberate effort to eliminate the Armenian historical footprint.

These actions constitute serious violations of international law and UNESCO instruments protecting cultural heritage, and they contravene binding orders of the International Court of Justice requiring Azerbaijan to prevent and punish such acts.

ANC–International expresses concern over the lack of a meaningful international response. Continued silence risks deepening impunity and undermining prospects for justice and the safe return of displaced Armenians.

ANC–International calls for:
• Immediate independent international monitoring of cultural and religious heritage in the affected territories;
• Targeted measures to ensure accountability for deliberate destruction;
• Elevating heritage protection within international engagement on the South Caucasus;
• Urgent legal and diplomatic action by Armenia, including recourse to international judicial mechanisms.

The destruction of cultural heritage is an attack not only on a people’s identity but on the shared heritage of humanity, requiring prompt and principled international action.

Armenian National Committee – International

Maghakyan, whose work exposed the systematic erasure of Armenian heritage in Nakhichevan between 1997 and 2006, presented evidence of what he described as state-sponsored cultural destruction by Azerbaijan. His research has been cited at the United Nations Security Council and the International Court of Justice, and has been featured in international media including the BBC and Time. He discussed Azerbaijan’s systematic state-sponsored heritage crime.

The initiative brings together displaced Artsakh Armenians to preserve traditional recipes and strengthen community bonds through food. The masterclasses are led by Ida Poghosyan (Ida’s Bakery) and Marine Gabrielyan (Hamov Artsakh / Zhengyalov Hats), who share authentic dishes passed down through generations.

These sessions not only safeguard Artsakh’s culinary heritage, but also support women-led initiatives and create opportunities for recognition and resilience within the community.

This initiative builds on ANC-UK’s continued support for the Askeran Development Center, including the recent fundraising screening of the film “There Was, There Was Not”, with all proceeds directed towards sustaining its work.