Rustam Bakoyan, Deputy Chair of the Armenian Parliament’s Standing Committee on Human Rights and Public Affairs, expressed deep concerns over the detention and trial of Armenians in Baku.

The MP announced via Facebook that he will meet with experts and ICRC representatives in the coming days to assess the situation and outline necessary steps.

“The prolonged detention of individuals such as Arkadi Ghukasyan, Arayik Harutyunyan, David Ishkhanyan, Bako Sahakyan, David Babayan, and others, coupled with reports on their conditions and the trials in Baku, raises grave concerns. Evidence points to massive violations of fundamental human rights, contradicting international norms and the principles of fair trial,” he noted.

He emphasized that discrimination against Armenians is rooted in their ethnic identity, in direct violation of human rights frameworks. “According to international standards, protecting human rights, irrespective of ethnicity, is a primary obligation,” Bakoyan wrote, citing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights.

The lawmaker reiterated that states are obligated to uphold justice and dignity for all individuals.

Baku has confirmed the detention of 23 Armenians, 17 of whom were captured during the September 2023 military aggression against Artsakh. Among them are former Artsakh presidents and prominent figures, including Ruben Vardanyan, who recently denounced fabricated charges and reported coercion.