Steinmeier visits Armenia and Azerbaijan (from March 30 onwards)

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) calls on German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to use his visit to Armenia and Azerbaijan to advocate for the rights of displaced Armenians, for the release of Armenian political prisoners, and for a just peace in the region. Following Azerbaijan’s attack on the region of Nagorno Karabakh in September 2023 and a subsequent nine-month hunger blockade, more than 100,000 Armenians had been driven out of their homeland. There are ongoing proceedings (since January 17, 2025) against 16 political prisoners who were arrested following the expulsions of 2023 – including the three former presidents of Nagorno Karabakh: Arajik Harutjunjan, Bako Sahakjan, and Arkadi Rukasjan.

“We are deeply concerned about Azerbaijan’s repressive domestic policy and aggressive foreign policy – especially against the Armenians,” stated Sarah Reinke, head of human rights work at the STP. Further, the STP warned that the current peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan could in fact amount to a “dictated peace”. “Armenians all over the world are protesting against the envisaged conditions because they were negotiated under military and political pressure,” Reinke said.

Together with the working group “Arbeitsgruppe Anerkennung – Gegen Genozid, für Völkerverständigung (AGA)”, the STP sent a letter to Steinmeier, asking him to “acquire his own critical picture of this process and the existing treaty text” and “to ensure that the EU’s observation mission (EUMA) will stay present at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border”. Steinmeier should emphasize that Azerbaijan does not have the right to demand Armenia to make amendments to its consitution, as this is a purely internal matter – and can only be initiated based on a referendum.

Further, Steinmeier should advocate for the release of all Armenians political prisoners who are currently detained in Azerbaijan. “We have received reports about torture. The judicial proceedings are a complete farce,” the letter states. The organizations are calling on Steinmeier to use his talks in Baku to ask about the prisoners and to advocate for their immediate release.

“Please use your visit to show solidarity with the displaced Armenians and to demand the release of all illegally detained former political leaders of Nagorno Karabakh,” the organizations appealed.

Contact

Sarah Reinke (STP): s.reinke@gfbv.de or +49 551 49906-13

Dr. Tessa Hofmann (AGA): tessa.hofmann@katwastan.de or +49 30 851 64 09