Lilit Galstyan addresses the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Andorra on Oct. 7

Lilit Galstyan, a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau and a lawmaker representing the Armenia alliance in parliament addressed the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Autumn Meeting in Andorra on Wednesday.

In her remarks, she called for a humanitarian visit to Baku to assess the condition of Armenian prisoners of war and other Armenian detainees held in Azerbaijan.

Galstyan said the detainees have faced closed-door trials, prolonged separation from their families and a lack of access by international monitoring bodies, including the International Committee of the Red Cross. She urged the OSCE PA to translate its human rights commitments into concrete action and said she is prepared to travel to Baku personally, even alone if necessary.

Below is Galstyan’s full statement.

Dear colleagues,

I am addressing you as a Member of the Armenian Delegation and as Chair of the Standing Committee on Human Rights Protection and Public Affairs of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, with a sincere humanitarian appeal.

For nearly three years, the trials of the Armenian prisoners of war and other Armenian detainees held in Azerbaijan have been conducted behind closed doors. Their families have been deprived of the opportunity to visit their loved ones. Information received through European Court of Human Rights, raise serious concerns regarding the physical and psychological well-being of the Armenians hostages.

For nearly a year access by the International Committee of the Red Cross to the detainees has been denied. No international monitoring body, nor a neutral third party has been able to visit the Armenian hostages.

This situation directly concerns the human dimension of the OSCE parliamentary institutions to uphold human rights, human dignity and humanitarian principles.

I would like to draw particular attention to paragraphs 208 and 209 of the Porto Declaration, that call on the Assembly to develop a framework for observing cases of incarcerated persons.
Paragraph 209 specifically calls for safeguarding the rights of all persons affected by the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan and stresses the need for humane treatment of prisoners of war.

In this context, I believe that an OSCE Parliamentary Assembly humanitarian visit to Baku would be a concrete _expression_ of these commitments.

I have therefore raised this issue directly with the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Secretary General, and the OSCE Special Representative for the South Caucasus, asking for their personal support in making such a humanitarian visit possible.
This is not a political negotiation. It is a humanitarian initiative and a matter of human dignity.
The purpose is simple. to assess their humanitarian and human rights situation, and to ensure that the principles adopted by our Assembly are put into practice.

I am prepared to travel to Baku personally and alone, if necessary. Should other OSCE parliamentarians wish to accompany me, I would warmly welcome their participation.
Therefore, I appeal for facilitating in the organization of an OSCE PA humanitarian visit to Baku and securing the necessary guarantees for safe access, security and return.

Dear colleagues, let us demonstrate good will. Let’s translate our principles into concrete humanitarian action.

I believe that such a visit could become a concrete confidence-building measure and a step toward creating genuine peace process.

Thank you.