Armenian Humanitarian Organizations Appeal to the U.S. Vice President
Leading independent charitable and humanitarian organizations in Armenia have sent an open letter to the Vice President of the United States, J.D. Vance, ahead of his visit to Armenia, urging attention to the plight of Armenian individuals who remain in detention in Azerbaijan.
The letter emphasizes that more than two years after the forced displacement of the Armenian population from Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), and despite publicly stated guarantees for the safe and unimpeded exit of civilians, 19 individuals of Armenian origin remain in places of detention in Baku. According to the authors, their prolonged detention constitutes a serious humanitarian challenge and a highly sensitive issue for Armenian society—both in Armenia and within the global diaspora, including in the United States.
The organizations note that access for families and international humanitarian actors to independent information regarding the health and conditions of the detainees remains limited. The letter stresses that prolonged isolation and the lack of regular contact with loved ones objectively exacerbate humanitarian risks and require heightened international attention.
The authors underline that, in international practice, such situations are addressed primarily within the framework of international humanitarian law and human rights standards, irrespective of the political or post-conflict context. In particular, they highlight that the lack of sufficient transparency and internationally recognized guarantees of fair trial increases concern regarding the fate of those detained.
The letter stresses that sustainable peace is impossible without consistent humanitarian steps. According to the signatories, the continuation of the situation regarding detained individuals perpetuates a sense of an unresolved conflict and undermines public confidence in the possibility of genuine, long-term peaceful settlement.
A special emphasis is placed on the role of the United States. The humanitarian organizations recall the repeatedly confirmed capacity of the U.S. to play a principled and decisive role in humanitarian matters, including facilitating the release of individuals held in detention during armed and post-conflict crises. In this context, they note that recent U.S. efforts to secure the return of Israeli hostages provide a compelling example of how international leadership can deliver tangible humanitarian results.
The authors express the hope that similar humanitarian assistance from the United States will be extended regarding the Armenian individuals who remain in detention in Azerbaijan. The letter stresses that such a step would not be perceived as a political gesture, but rather as a contribution to long-term stability and a signal of willingness to move forward without unresolved humanitarian issues.
“For civil society organizations, humanitarian concerns begin not with politics, but with human life and dignity. We are convinced that it is humanitarian actions that lay the foundation for genuine peace and trust,” the letter states.
The signatories emphasize that U.S. humanitarian engagement in addressing this matter would serve as a testament to its commitment to peace and would be received with profound respect and gratitude by the Armenian people, including the multi-million-strong Armenian community in the United States.
The letter is signed by a number of leading NGOs and humanitarian organizations and has been submitted to the Office of the Vice President of the United States as an open humanitarian appeal.
