Protest in Berlin calls for immediate action against Azerbaijan`s  unlawful detentions - Free Armenian Hostages

ArmInfo. Human rights organizations, activists, and concerned citizens gathered today at  the Brandenburg Gate to demand the immediate release of Armenian  political prisoners unlawfully detained in Azerbaijan. The protest,  organized by the Zentralrat der Armenier in Deutschland e.V., the  Society for Threatened Peoples (GfbV), Theophanu Club Germany,  Working Group Recognition - Against Genocide, for International  Understanding e.V., IGFM Internationale Gesellschaft fur  Menschenrechte e.V., Deutschland, and Free Armenian Hostages civic  movement, called on European leaders to take urgent action against  Azerbaijan's continued human rights violations.

Prominent human rights activists, including Jonathan Spangenberg,  Chairman of ZAD, addressed the crowd, emphasizing the systematic  persecution of Armenians and Azerbaijan's use of political prisoners  as bargaining tools in negotiations. "The detainees, including Ruben  Vardanyan, are enduring inhumane conditions, with reports of torture  and mistreatment. Vardanyan is currently on a hunger strike, and his  life is at grave risk. We cannot stay silent," declared Spangenberg.

The protestors stressed that Azerbaijan's actions violate  international law, including the UN Genocide Convention and the  European Convention on Human Rights. The demonstrators urged the  European Union, Germany, and France to implement the following  measures:

 Sanctions Against Azerbaijani Officials - Targeted sanctions on  individuals and institutions responsible for the unlawful detention  and mistreatment of Armenian prisoners.

 International Monitoring of Prison Conditions - Pressure Azerbaijan  to allow the UN Committee Against Torture and the International Red  Cross to assess the prisoners' treatment.

 Immediate Release of All Armenian Detainees - Demand Azerbaijan  comply with international human rights obligations and release  political prisoners without conditions.

 Preservation of Armenian Cultural Heritage - Investigate and  prevent further destruction of Armenian cultural and religious sites  in occupied Artsakh.

 Ensuring Safe Return for Displaced Armenians - Advocate for  international protection mechanisms allowing Armenians to return to  their homeland.

Speakers at the protest condemned European inaction, with Spangenberg  referencing Germany's historical responsibility to prevent genocide  and protect vulnerable communities. He criticized Chancellor Olaf  Scholz's failure to take decisive action and called for a formal  petition to the International Criminal Court against Azerbaijan's  President Ilham Aliyev.

This protest follows ongoing diplomatic appeals by human rights  organizations to the European Commission and the French government.  Despite repeated warnings from the UN about the risk of genocide,  meaningful international action remains absent.

The coalition of human rights organizations plans further  demonstrations across Europe and will submit an official petition to  the European Parliament urging immediate sanctions against  Azerbaijan. Protest organizers also called on European citizens to  raise awareness and pressure their governments to act against these  gross human rights violations.

"The world must not turn a blind eye to Azerbaijan's crimes," said  Sarah Reinke, Head of Human Rights at GfbV. "The time for words is  over; we need action now."