"Azerbaijani Oil and Money Overrule Values": Human Rights Defender Speaks on the Struggle for Armenian POWs and Justice

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: In an exclusive interview with The Armenian Report, prominent Armenian human rights lawyer Ruben Melikyan addressed the ongoing humanitarian crisis involving Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) held in Azerbaijan. Melikyan, known for his work on high-profile human rights cases, shared his views on the political and economic forces that may be overshadowing justice. His comments came during a protest in Yerevan, where hundreds of citizens gathered outside the United Nations office to demand the immediate release of Armenian POWs and hostages.

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When asked if he believes financial interests are taking precedence over human rights, Melikyan responded candidly. “I don't want to believe it, but the facts are very convincing. Unfortunately, Azerbaijani oil and money seem to overrule values. We need to declare that we stand for values, not money, and remind decision-makers in different countries and organizations that our people demand justice and human rights,” he said.

Melikyan emphasized the critical importance of pushing back against Azerbaijan's human rights violations. He urged those planning to attend the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP29), which will be held in Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, in November, to educate themselves about the issue and decide whether to raise concerns about the Armenian POWs. "First of all, they need to research the issue and decide whether to voice the issue of prisoners in Azerbaijan," he stated.

The protest in Yerevan is part of a broader global movement aiming to bring attention to the plight of Armenian POWs and hostages. Citizens, former human rights defenders from Armenia and Artsakh, and activists gathered to pressure Azerbaijan into complying with international humanitarian law.

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The timing of these protests is particularly significant, as COP29 in Baku is just weeks away. Stepanyan stressed the urgency of raising global awareness about the POWs before the world’s attention shifts to Azerbaijan for the climate conference.

"As the day of the conference approaches, there is growing activity in the international arena regarding this issue. We must use this opportunity to pressure Azerbaijan into complying with international humanitarian law," Human Rights Defender of Artsakhm Gegham Stepanyan said during the protest. He noted the global response to other conflicts, such as the United Nations’ call for the release of hostages in the Middle East, and argued that the same urgency should apply to the Armenian detainees.

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At the Yerevan protest, participants handed over a letter to the UN office, addressed to Secretary-General António Guterres. In the letter, Stepanyan outlined Azerbaijan’s history of aggression against the people of Artsakh, describing how the international community has largely ignored warnings from Artsakh’s authorities and civil society. "Artsakh, with its thousands of years of Armenian history, was occupied and depopulated in a matter of days," Stepanyan explained.

The protest is just one of many planned actions. Stepanyan and other organizers intend to stage similar demonstrations at key embassies in Armenia, including those of Russia, France, and the United States. Their goal is to pressure these countries to take a stronger stance on Azerbaijan’s treatment of Armenian POWs.

As COP29 approaches, activists see this as a crucial moment to bring the issue of Armenian POWs to the forefront of international discussions. The hope is that the world’s attention on Baku for the climate conference will also shine a light on Azerbaijan’s human rights record, especially its treatment of Armenian detainees. 

Ruben Melikyan, reflecting on the importance of these efforts, stressed the need for continuous action. “The world must not forget about our people. We must keep pushing for justice, even if the road is long,” he concluded.