MEP urges EU top diplomat to help release Armenian POWs

MEP Fernand Kartheiser from Luxembourg sent a letter to Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, asking her to intervene and help the Armenian prisoners unlawfully held in Baku.

Kartheiser noted that Ruben Vardanyan had begun a hunger strike, and his health had deteriorated to a critical level, placing his life in immediate danger.

“Alongside Mr. Vardanyan, a further twenty-two Armenian persons remain detained in Azerbaijan, where they are subjected to conditions constituting human rights violations. Their detention might well amount to a breach of international law. Given the gravity of the situation, I would be most grateful if you could show your support in a number of ways. I am indeed convinced that these detainees could be greatly assisted if the European Union were to take concrete measures to address this pressing issue.

There is growing concern that these persons could be used as hostages. Therefore, Mrs High Representative, you might consider asking for their immediate release, and thereafter help ensure their safe return to Armenia. All these matters relate of course to the difficult relationship between Armenia and Azerbaijan. I do sincerely hope that you will continue working for an improvement of these relations and help protect Armenia’s rights and security in a situation where a new outbreak of violence seems, unfortunately, to be possible at any time,” the MEP said in a letter.