Today in Washington, DC, the ANCA’s Leo Sarkissian internship team met with U.S. Senator Adam Schiff to advocate for the immediate release of Armenian hostages and political prisoners held illegally by Azerbaijan.
During the meeting, the interns highlighted Azerbaijan’s ongoing human rights violations and called for stronger U.S. leadership in holding the Aliyev regime accountable.
Senator Schiff, a long-time friend of the Armenian-American community and a leading voice on human rights issues, reaffirmed his commitment to standing with the Armenian people and championing justice in the region.
In the wake of Azerbaijan’s military assault and nine-month blockade of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) beginning September 19, 2023, Azerbaijani forces launched a coordinated campaign of violence, starvation, and forced displacement — culminating in what has been widely recognized as a case of ethnic cleansing. Over 100,000 Armenians were forcibly uprooted from their ancestral homeland in a matter of days.
In the aftermath, Azerbaijani authorities detained key Artsakh leaders between September 27 and October 3, 2023. Those arrested include Ruben Vardanyan, Davit Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, Arayik Harutyunyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, and Lt. Gen. Davit Manukyan — all of whom had surrendered peacefully and posed no military threat.
These high-profile Armenian leaders have now been held in Baku prisons for over 270 days, without access to due process, legal representation, or independent monitoring. The charges against them — including “terrorism,” “financing war,” and “threats to Azerbaijani sovereignty” — are widely viewed by legal experts as fabricated, politically motivated, and entirely illegitimate.
Human rights organizations have condemned Azerbaijan’s actions as illegal “hostage diplomacy,” accusing the regime of conducting sham trials, enforcing solitary confinement, and using the detainees as tools of state propaganda and intimidation. These arrests are part of a broader strategy to erase Armenian presence in Artsakh and silence any political memory of its self-governance.
In addition to the political leadership, at least 23 Armenian POWs and civilians remain in Azerbaijani custody. Many were captured during the 2023 attack, while others were kidnapped or disappeared after the forced depopulation. Reports detail widespread abuse, including torture, mock executions, and psychological warfare — all in clear violation of the Geneva Conventions and international human rights law.
Despite mounting calls from the U.S. Congress, international legal bodies, and humanitarian organizations, the Aliyev regime continues to stonewall global pressure, deny access to international monitors, and openly exploit the hostages to whitewash its genocidal campaign.
The ANCA and other Armenian advocacy organizations continue to demand immediate U.S. action to secure the release of all Armenian detainees, hold Azerbaijani officials accountable, and prevent further crimes against the Armenian people.
