Jared Genser, the U.S.-based international human rights lawyer representing Armenian philanthropist and political prisoner Ruben Vardanyan, warned that he and 22 other Armenians will remain imprisoned in Azerbaijan unless Armenia’s leadership presses for their release in peace talks with Baku. Genser delivered this warning during an interview with Azatutyun while visiting Yerevan, Armenia, on Thursday, June 12.
As Azerbaijan presses ahead with trials against Artsakh’s former leaders, legal experts say the proceedings are nothing more than political theater. Vardanyan and seven other prisoners are former leaders of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) who were captured by Azerbaijan during or shortly after its September 2023 military offensive that forced Artsakh’s entire population to flee to Armenia and restored Azerbaijani control over the region. They went on trial in January together with eight other Artsakh Armenians, facing a long list of charges, including genocide and war crimes.
Genser pointed out that a draft Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty finalized in March reportedly does not address the fate of the Armenian prisoners and instead commits both sides to withdrawing their international lawsuits filed against each other. While the Armenian government has admitted that the draft agreement contains no reference to detainees, Genser believes this issue must be part of the final deal.
Genser stated, “Once the agreement is signed, it includes a clause, from what I understand, stating that both sides must withdraw international legal claims. That means if the prisoners are not freed by then, he [Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan] won’t be able to raise the issue of prisoners going forward. Their cases cannot be raised again. They’ll be trapped in Azerbaijan, and [Azerbaijani President Ilham] Aliyev will act with impunity,” he warned.
Like Armenian opposition leaders and other domestic critics of Pashinyan, Genser earlier accused Yerevan of doing little to try to have the prisoners freed. Pashinyan has said that his government will make only “proportionate” and “reasonable” efforts for that purpose. He has claimed that Yerevan will harm the prisoners if it acts more forcefully. His detractors say that he is simply afraid of angering Baku.
Genser, who is currently in Armenia, noted that he has not met with Prime Minister Pashinyan during this visit. However, he acknowledged being openly critical of the Armenian government’s lack of action. Genser also said that people who have met with Pashinyan recently conveyed that Trump takes a different stance on the issue than President Biden.
“Ultimately, a deal on detainees likely won’t be between Armenia and Azerbaijan alone. The U.S. will play a key role,” Genser said. “But one thing is clear, Pashinyan needs to urge Trump, both publicly and privately, to push for the release of all detainees. That is what must be done.”
Currently, 23 Armenians remain imprisoned in Baku. Trials are ongoing for 16 of them; the rest have already been convicted.
Genser emphasized that the case of Ruben Vardanyan is not a legal matter but a political struggle. “These trials are being held in military courts, yet under international law, civilians should never be tried in such courts. It’s illegal because military judges and prosecutors are not independent — they report to the commander-in-chief, President Aliyev in this case. The outcome is predetermined. Ruben will be convicted, and so will the others,” Genser told Azatutyun. “This is not a legal process. It’s a political one. The real challenge is figuring out how to free political prisoners held by dictators.”
Genser described the trials as a “travesty of justice designed to legitimize the ethnic cleansing carried out by Azerbaijan in Artsakh.” He said the verdicts are “already decided” and that Baku is violating fundamental international legal norms in its treatment of Armenian prisoners.
Ruben Vardanyan, who served as Artsakh’s (Nagorno-Karabakh) State Minister from November 2022 to February 2023 and had no role in military affairs, faces over 40 charges ranging from terrorism and mercenarism to mass murder. He is facing a potential life sentence. His health has declined following a three-week hunger strike in February and March of this year to protest against the trials described by him as a “farce.” Vardanyan strongly denies all charges leveled against him and is held in poor prison conditions.
Genser noted that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has not visited him in recent months, raising concerns about his welfare. The ICRC last confirmed a visit in March, and Azerbaijan has since announced plans to close the organization’s office on its territory.
“Aliyev was clear in his goal to expel the 200,000 Armenian Christian population through ethnic cleansing. The prosecution of former leaders like Ruben, the forced dissolution of Nagorno-Karabakh’s government — it’s all part of a long-term strategy. The charges are politically motivated,” Genser said.
The trials, he argues, aim not only to punish individuals but to criminalize the idea of self-determination and rewrite the narrative of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. This broader agenda, according to Genser, involves ethnic cleansing, dismantling local government, and imprisoning its officials.
When asked whether the international community has responded in any meaningful way, Genser was cautious but hinted at encouraging developments from U.S. political figures: “There are promising signals from the Trump camp. Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio, in particular, could undoubtedly play a key role in moving this issue forward and avoiding further delays,” he said.
Genser noted that he feels more hopeful now than in the past, citing signs of real progress both publicly and behind the scenes. He believes that President Aliyev is aware of the stakes and understands that there will be consequences if the process does not move forward.
