Human rights organizations urge German Foreign Minister to advocate  for a just peace between Yerevan and Baku

ArmInfo. Several international human rights organizations have issued a joint appeal to German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, calling on him to step up his efforts to promote a just peace process between Armenia and  Azerbaijan.  The appeal was signed by the Society for Threatened  Peoples (STP), the Central Council of Armenians in Germany (ZAD), the  Working Group Recognition - Against Genocide, for International  Understanding (AGA), the International Society for Human Rights  (ISHR), Christian Solidarity International (CSI) and the Stephanus  Foundation for Persecuted Christians.

The agreement negotiated between the two states under US mediation  has significant gaps. "True peace is not possible without protecting  the rights and security of the Armenians who were violently expelled  from Nagorno-Karabakh/Arzach. We therefore call on the German  government, together with the European Union and its member states,  to play an active and principled role in this crucial peace  process,," the statement says.  "Without clear words on the violent  expulsion of over 100,000 Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh by  Azerbaijan in 2023 and a perspective for these people, there can be   no lasting peace," warns Sarah Reinke, head of the human rights work   at the STP.

In turn, Jonathan Spangenberg, Chairman of the Central Council of  Armenians, demanded that Azerbaijan must immediately release the more  than 23 Armenian civilians, prisoners of war, and former officials  from Nagorno-Karabakh who are still being held in Azerbaijan. " The  politically motivated trials against Armenian political leaders must  be stopped!"  he noted.

Tessa Hofmann, member of the working group Recognition - Against  genocide, for International Understanding, pointed out that political  repressions continue to intensify in Azerbaijan. " The work of  non-governmental organizations is severely restricted. Around 200  people are being held as political prisoners. On June 20, 2025, eight  journalists, including Bahruz Samadov, a political scientist studying  for a doctorate in Prague, were sentenced to prison terms ranging  from seven and a half to 15 years. His case is a prime example of the  systematic criminalization of peace-oriented intellectuals," the  human rights activist added.