Lemkin Institute calls on Trump to secure release of Armenian hostages in Azerbaijan

(Horizon Weekly) – The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention has issued an open letter urging U.S. President Donald Trump to take immediate action to secure the release of Armenian prisoners illegally held in Azerbaijan ahead of the Christmas season.

The letter frames the continued detention of Armenian prisoners as a grave humanitarian injustice and a test of U.S. leadership in the South Caucasus. The Institute argues that securing their release would not only save lives but also reinforce American credibility and leverage in a strategically vital region.

The Lemkin Institute recalls Azerbaijan’s 2020 war and its 2023 aggression on Artsakh, which resulted in the forced displacement of the entire Armenian population. It notes that Azerbaijani forces openly documented acts of brutality during the conflict and warns that years of international inaction have emboldened Baku’s leadership.

According to the letter, an estimated 80 Armenians remain in Azerbaijani custody, including prisoners of war and civilians who should have been released under the November 2020 ceasefire agreement. Among them is Ruben Vardanyan, former Artsakh State Minister and prominent humanitarian figure. The Institute states that detainees are being held in degrading conditions, denied due process, and subjected to abuse and torture.

The letter also raises alarm over Azerbaijan’s forced closure of the International Committee of the Red Cross office, the only international body previously able to access Armenian prisoners, warning that the move further endangers their safety.

Criticizing the failure of the previous U.S. administration to secure the prisoners’ release, the Lemkin Institute calls on President Trump to make their freedom a non-negotiable condition of U.S. engagement with Azerbaijan. It argues that decisive action would reaffirm U.S. authority in the region and demonstrate a genuine commitment to peace.

The Institute concludes by urging President Trump to bring the Armenian prisoners home before January 6, when Armenian Apostolic Christians celebrate Christmas, reminding him of his pledge to protect Armenian Christians worldwide.