A group of British Members of Parliament has urged the UK government to apply pressure on Azerbaijan to release Armenian prisoners, calling their release a crucial step toward peace.

In an official letter, Jessica Morden, Chair of the UK Parliament's All-Party Parliamentary Group on Armenia, along with Vice Chairs John Whittingdale, Chris Law, and Lord Mark McInnes, appealed to the government for action. Morden shared details of the letter on the social media platform X.

The letter states: “There is deep concern, including from prisoners’ relatives and the Armenian diaspora in the UK, regarding the absence of independent legal assistance for the detainees, reports of physical and psychological torture, and the restriction of international organizations and media from monitoring the trials,” Panorama.am reports.

The MPs also raised alarms over the suspension of BBC News Azerbaijani and Voice of America operations in Baku, the halt of activities by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and threats of expulsion directed at several United Nations agencies.

“Family members tell us the detainees are held in near-total isolation and rarely communicate with their loved ones. We are particularly concerned about the health of one prisoner, Ruben Vardanyan, who recently ended a nearly month-long hunger strike.

We urge ministers to explore the possibility of British embassy representatives in Baku visiting the 23 Armenian detainees. We also ask ministers to firmly request that Azerbaijan allow ICRC staff to return and monitor detainees’ well-being, resume operations of BBC News in Baku, ensure thorough trial monitoring, and immediately release all Armenian detainees as a step toward lasting peace between the two nations,” the MPs wrote.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released its annual report, noting that Armenian Christian prisoners often face severe abuse, including beatings, psychological violence, and denial of medical aid and adequate food. Reports also mention religious persecution, such as attempts to burn off cross tattoos.