Member of the NSW Legislative Council calls for release of all  Armenians detained in Azerbaijan 

ArmInfo.  Member of the NSW Legislative Council Jacqui Munro has formally written to the Armenian National Committee of Australia advising her decision to sponsor Armenian political leader David Babayan, former Foreign Minister of Artsakh, who is currently detained in Azerbaijan, the Armenian  National Committee of Australia reports. 

Mr Babayan is one of 23 Armenians illegally held in Azerbaijan since  the complete ethnic cleansing of Artsakh in September 2023, with the  detention of hostages raising concerns among international human  rights organisations and governments.

In a letter addressed to the Charge d'Affaires of Azerbaijan, Mr  Vagif Jafarov, Munro has expressed deep concern over Azerbaijan's  continued detention of Armenian hostages and its recent closure of  the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) office - calling  for the immediate release of all Armenian hostages. 

The letter also addresses the recent peace deal signed by Armenian  and Azerbaijan and notes the failure to address the release of  hostages. The letter reads: "I welcome the peace process signed  between Armenia, Azerbaijan and the United States with the hopes that  it will not result in future impositions on the sovereignty of  Armenia. However, I am concerned that the current framework does not  allow for the release of Armenian hostages. A lasting and just peace  for all must include the release of these hostages."

Munro joins NSW Parliamentary colleagues Dr Hugh McDermott MP, The  Hon. Susan Carter MLC, Mr Tim James MP, and Mr Matt Cross MP, and  Victorian Parliamentarian Kim Wells MP, who have also sponsored  detained Armenians, in calling for an end to politically motivated  trials and the immediate release of all Armenian hostages.

Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) Executive Director  Michael Kolokossian welcomed the decision from the Hon. Munro,  stressing the importance of international advocacy on behalf of  detained Armenians.

"These hostages are being used as political leverage to humiliate the  Armenian nation and to erase Artsakh's leadership from the  international stage," Mr Kolokossian said. "Their freedom is not only  a matter of human rights but also of dignity for the Armenian people.  We commend Ms Munro and all parliamentarians who have taken a stand  against Azerbaijan's unjust practices."

The ANC-AU continues to call on the Australian Government and  international community to apply pressure on Azerbaijan to release  all Armenian political detainees and restore access to independent  humanitarian organisations.

The exact number of Armenian prisoners of war and hostages held in  Azerbaijani prisons is still unknown.  According to experts, there  are several hundred. Today, the Azerbaijani authorities confirm that  they have 23 Armenians. Among those held in Azerbaijani captivity,  there are 8 former and current representatives of the  military-political leadership of Artsakh. These are the former  presidents of Artsakh Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arayik  Harutyunyan, former Foreign Minister David Babayan, as well as the  speaker of parliament David Ishkhanyan, former commander of the  Artsakh Defense Army, General Levon Mnatsakanyan, General David  Manukyan and former state minister Ruben Vardanyan.