Protest rally in Berlin in support of Armenian prisoners

Protesters at the Brandenburg Gate whose action was initiated by the Free Armenian Hostages movement, demanded that the EU leadership urgently counteract human rights violations in Azerbaijan.

Jonathan Spangenberg, President of the Central Council of Armenians of Germany, spoke at the rally. “Those arrested, including Ruben Vardanyan, live in inhumane conditions, there are reports of torture and ill-treatment. Vardanyan is currently on hunger strike and his life is in great danger. We cannot keep silent”, – he said.

Protesters noted that Baku’s actions violate international law, including the UN Convention on the Prevention of the Crime of Genocide and the European Convention on Human Rights.

The rally members called on the European Union, Germany and France to impose sanctions against Azerbaijani officials who are guilty of illegal arrests and torture, conduct independent monitoring of prison conditions and demand that Baku urgently release all Armenian political prisoners.

“The world should not turn a blind eye to the crimes of Azerbaijan. The time for words is over. Now we need action”, – said Sarah Reinke, Head of the Human Rights Department of the Society for the Protection of Vulnerable Peoples.