Jared Genser, international human rights lawyer representing former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan—currently jailed in Baku—stated that the release of Armenian prisoners should be a prerequisite for the United States administration to endorse the peace agreement. His remarks were published in an article by CNA.
Genser urged the administration of former President Donald Trump to fulfill its campaign promise and intervene on behalf of Armenian Christians, warning that the recently negotiated peace agreement could leave prisoners of war unprotected.
“Our demand to the administration has always been clear from the start: the release of Armenian Christian prisoners of war must be a precondition for advancing [the peace deal]. That has been the administration’s position,” Genser told CNA.
While Armenia and Azerbaijan announced earlier this month that they had agreed on the main points of a peace treaty, the document has not yet been signed. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has expressed willingness to sign it.
Genser noted that Ruben Vardanyan, a follower of the Armenian Apostolic Church held in Baku prison, has been denied access to the Bible. According to him, this reinforces the view that the persecution of Vardanyan and other leaders from Nagorno-Karabakh is not only due to their political roles in the self-proclaimed republic but also linked to their Christian faith.
“We have also witnessed the complete destruction of Armenian churches and other cultural heritage monuments following the ethnic cleansing,” Genser added.
Vardanyan faces 42 separate charges. Though never a military officer, his case is being tried in a military tribunal. Since his imprisonment, he has gone on two hunger strikes—the latest lasting 23 days, during which he lost about 14 pounds, according to Genser.
Genser said his legal work involves not only Vardanyan’s release but also advocacy for all Armenian detainees, the rights of displaced persons from Artsakh, and the broader objective of sustainable peace in the region.
“When representing a highly prominent political prisoner, the work isn’t just about that individual. It’s about taking a broader view and pushing for comprehensive solutions,” he said.
The human rights advocate emphasized that during his campaign, Donald Trump pledged to protect persecuted Armenian Christians, describing the events in Nagorno-Karabakh as “ethnic cleansing.” Genser stated that prisoner release is a “top priority” for the new administration.
“We have been told that their release must be a prerequisite for President Trump’s final endorsement of the peace agreement.
I believe this is a critical development because our greatest fear was that if the peace process continued without addressing the fate of Nagorno-Karabakh or the Armenian Christian prisoners, these detainees could be sacrificed as part of the deal,” said Genser.
According to him, the current draft of the peace agreement lacks clear mechanisms for addressing the prisoners’ fate or the future of Artsakh. Still, he believes the Trump administration can exert influence. Although he did not specify what tactics should be used against Azerbaijan’s leader, he emphasized that Trump’s team must “shake” President Aliyev, whom he called a dictator.
“In the end, dictators only release political prisoners when forced to. They never do it out of generosity or humanitarian concern. It only happens when they realize that keeping them imprisoned costs more than letting them go,” Genser stated.
In response to CNA, the U.S. State Department affirmed: “We continue to closely monitor the situation in the region through our embassies. The rights of all detained individuals must be respected, and if criminal charges are brought, they must be provided all guarantees of a fair trial.”
Genser concluded that lasting peace is impossible without resolving all key issues under the peace agreement.
“A peace deal that leaves unresolved the future of Nagorno-Karabakh’s people and the release of Armenian Christian prisoners is a recipe for renewed conflict, disagreements, and possibly war,” he said.
