Armenia has effectively abandoned its citizens held in Azerbaijan, leaving them without consular protection or independent international oversight. This statement was made by Siranush Sahakyan, a lawyer and advocate for the interests of Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), during the "Voices of Armenia" conference organized by the Union of Journalists of Armenia.

According to Sahakyan, some detainees have been in custody since 2020, with the obligations outlined in the November 2020 statement remaining unfulfilled. Individuals detained after 2023 continue to be held despite the signing of peace documents. The issues of releasing captives and determining the fate of missing persons remain unresolved.

International Legal Context

The human rights advocate noted that in April, the ECHR confirmed that threats to the life and safety of all Armenians held in Baku are real and continuous.

  • The Court has set a new reporting deadline for August 2026.

  • The ECHR has directly demanded that Azerbaijan provide the full texts of all issued sentences, which will allow for these verdicts to be effectively challenged on an international level.

Deteriorating Conditions and Lack of Access

Sahakyan highlighted the extremely harsh conditions of detention.

  • Red Cross Visits: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) ceased regular visits in 2025; the only visit since then occurred as a one-off event during the Christmas period in December 2025.

  • Legal Representation: Independent lawyers still have no access to their clients, either in person or remotely.

  • Family Rights: Families are being denied their right to visitation.

The Call for State Action

The lawyer emphasized that the relatives of the captives are willing to travel to Baku despite the inherent risks. However, this is physically impossible without state assistance regarding visa processing and border crossing.

"Switzerland and several Scandinavian countries have already officially confirmed their readiness to act as mediators for consular visits—provided that Armenia exercises its sovereign right." — Siranush Sahakyan

The central thesis of her speech is that Armenia is evading the implementation of its consular right to visit its own citizens without providing any clear justification. Sahakyan cited the specific case of Ludvig Mkrtchyan, who is solely a citizen of the Republic of Armenia and never held Artsakh citizenship, yet remains in Azerbaijan without any consular support from Yerevan. She dismissed the state's attempts to justify its inaction by citing legal uncertainties regarding the status of the captives as "manipulative."

In conclusion, Sahakyan stated that despite the obstacles, the families of the captives intend to continue their legal battle and are prepared to take personal responsibility for challenging the fabricated Azerbaijani sentences internationally.