News - Free Armenian Prisoners: We urge Secretary of State Blinken to prioritize immediate release of all Armenian prisoners

As diplomats gather for US-mediated Armenia-Azerbaijan talks in Washington, Armenian prisoners like Ruben Vardanyan languish in Azerbaijani jails - a glaring contradiction to any peace rhetoric. Says the statement published on Facebook page of "Free Armenian Prisoners." "We urge Secretary of State Antony Blinken to prioritize the immediate release of all Armenian prisoners. No genuine peace can exist while innocent civilians suffer unjust detention. We call on U.S. Department of State and U.S. Mission to the OSCE to push for concrete actions, not just words. A lasting peace can only be built on a foundation of justice and respect for human rights," says the statement.  Last month, a group of international lawyers for Ruben Vardanyan, illegally detained in Baku, submitted an urgent appeal to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, alleging torture against their client.Last week, the PACE President also made a statement calling on the Azerbaijani authorities to immediately re-establish work with the Committee for the Prevention of Torture.