Alexis Rochette Krikorian
Since the 44-day war in 2020, Azerbaijan has continued to illegally detain Armenians, in blatant violation of international law and the commitments outlined in the tripartite ceasefire declaration of November 10, 2020. In response to this ongoing but not irreversible injustice, Hyestart launched the Libertas campaign in 2022, in close collaboration with the Covcas Center for Law and Conflict Resolution and the Armenophobia Observatory.
This international solidarity campaign, which notably includes a sponsorship mechanism for Armenian prisoners of war by local authorities, NGOs, and public figures, aims to raise awareness among both the public and policymakers about the plight of these prisoners and to secure their release. We are grateful for the support of the cities of Lyon, Geneva, and Montpellier, as well as NGOs such as Christian Solidarity International (CSI)—which sponsors hostage Vicken Euljekjian—along with Dove Tales, the Society for Threatened Peoples, and the Scottish Peace Network. We also extend our sincere gratitude to Lisa Mazzone, former member of the Swiss National Council and Council of States for Geneva, and now President of the Swiss Greens, for her public support of this critical cause.
A Major Victory in December 2023 but the Fight Continues
After a year of intense mobilization, the Libertas campaign contributed to a significant success in December 2023: the release of 32 Armenian detainees, including prisoners of war sponsored by early supporters of the campaign, such as the city of Lyon and the NGO Dove Tales. However, the struggle is far from over: 23 prisoners remain in captivity, alongside dozens of forcibly disappeared individuals whom Azerbaijan refuses to acknowledge. The fate of these missing persons—whose conditions in a country officially condemned by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in December 2021 for anti-Armenian state racism—remains tragically unknown.
The City of Geneva’s Unwavering Commitment
On September 19, 2024, marking the first anniversary of the ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh, the Administrative Council of the City of Geneva—the city's executive body—reaffirmed its long-standing humanitarian commitment by calling for the unconditional release of the 23 Armenian prisoners still being held in Azerbaijan in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.
"This so-called 'trial' is not just against me. It is an attempt to criminalize all Armenians—everyone who has supported Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and its people, everyone who has shown compassion. This is an attack on an entire nation." (Ruben Vardanyan (February 19, 2025)
One Man, the Symbol of a Nation’s Torment
Among those unjustly detained is Ruben Vardanyan, philanthropist and former leader of Nagorno-Karabakh. For 18 months, he has endured inhumane treatment, and on February 19, 2025, he began a hunger strike to protest the violations of his fundamental rights. Denied a fair trial and coerced into signing falsified documents, his gaunt, visibly tortured appearance has come to embody the suffering of Armenian prisoners—and, beyond that, the anguish of an entire nation.
On February 19, he told his family in a phone call: "This so-called 'trial' is not just against me. It is an attempt to criminalize all Armenians—everyone who has supported Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and its people, everyone who has shown compassion. This is an attack on an entire nation."
A Call for International Action
In response to this dire situation, on February 27, 2025, leading Armenian diaspora organizations and Armenia-based NGOs issued a statement urging the international community to take decisive action against the Aliyev regime. Their key demands include:
Justice for all Armenian prisoners of war and political detainees illegally held in Baku.
An immediate and thorough investigation into the treatment inflicted on Ruben Vardanyan.
Transparency and access for international observers to Azerbaijan's judicial proceedings.
Stronger pressure on Azerbaijan to uphold its international obligations and end its political persecution of Armenian citizens.
Renewed Commitment to Justice
Hyestart reaffirms its unwavering commitment to securing the release of Armenians illegally detained in Azerbaijan and calls on the international community to intensify pressure on Azerbaijan to prevent further human rights violations and to ensure the release of hostages and forcibly disappeared individuals.
The Libertas campaign remains dedicated to achieving, as an urgent priority:
The immediate release of the 23 Armenians abducted and illegally detained by Azerbaijan (9 soldiers, 8 politicians, and 6 civilians).
A thorough and independent investigation into the 80 to 200 Armenians who have been forcibly disappeared since 2020—despite clear evidence that they were captured alive.
Join the Movement—Every Voice Counts
Follow the Libertas campaign online and on social media (Facebook, X, Instagram).
Sign petitions, write to your elected representatives, take action. Mobilize others.
Silence is not an option. We will not abandon them. Together, let’s make their voices heard and demand their release.
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