Armen Gevorgyan, a member of the Hayastan faction, told the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly session on social, health, and sustainable development that any peace is hollow while hostages remain.
He reported alarming information that Armenian hostages held in Baku are in a severe psychological state and have even attempted suicide after visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross ceased—a humanitarian action now suspended.
The deputy stressed that for nearly two months, Armenian prisoners have been held in complete isolation without access to any independent international body. He added that there has been no information on their detention conditions, health status, or mental well-being.
The Red Cross last visited the Armenian hostages in June, but this organization has completely ceased its operations in Baku under demands from the Azerbaijani authorities.
He also recalled the Washington Declaration signed on August 8, 2025, noting that despite it, there has been no progress on releasing the hostages.
“Just as Hamas holds captives to gain leverage in negotiations, Ilham Aliyev uses Armenian prisoners, including former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh, as political bargaining chips. They are not prisoners but instruments of political manipulation. It is clear that any peace is hollow while hostages suffer, and genuine stability cannot be built on their suffering. It is time for the International Committee of the Red Cross and a neutral third party—consular or humanitarian organisations—to have immediate and unhindered access to detainees in Baku. Release all detainees. Impose targeted sanctions on Azerbaijani officials involved in these abuses, and support international investigations,” he said.
According to a decision by the Azerbaijani government, the International Committee of the Red Cross suspended its delegation in Azerbaijan from September 3, 2025. It was stated that “Azerbaijani authorities will ensure contact between detainees and their families.” In the European Court of Human Rights, Siranush Sahakyan, defender of hostages’ rights, reported that among Armenian hostages held in Baku prisons there have been attempted suicides. On September 2, the wife of Armenian prisoner Vicken Euljekjian held in Azerbaijan, Linda Euljekjian, warned that her husband has been on hunger strike in a Baku prison for 20 days and appealed to the international community and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, saying her husband’s life is at risk and he urgently needs doctors.
