MELBOURNE: The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) has welcomed a powerful letter from Victorian Member of Parliament, Mr Kim Wells MP, who pledged to sponsor Mr Arkadi Ghukasyan, the second President of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) — and called for the immediate release of all Armenian hostages illegally detained in Azerbaijan.
In his letter addressed to Mr Vagif Jafarov, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Australia, the Member for Rowville stated: “I have taken the decision to personally sponsor the Armenian political leader Mr Arkadi Ghukasyan — the former President of the Republic of Artsakh who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. This sponsorship is not only of concern to the Armenian-Australian community within my electorate, but to all people who uphold the principles of international human rights, human dignity, and freedom.”
Mr Wells expressed alarm at Azerbaijan’s escalating violations of humanitarian norms, condemning the government’s recent closure of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) offices in Azerbaijan.
He wrote: “I am bewildered by the fact that your government has decided to shut down offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Azerbaijan, removing the last mechanism for independent oversight in your country’s penal system. In light of Azerbaijan’s record, this news is troubling and has only amplified my concerns for the condition of Armenian hostages held in Baku.”
The letter further reiterated Mr Wells’ “strong support” for the resolution passed earlier this year by the European Parliament, which denounced the “unjust detention, inhuman treatment, and unfair trials of Armenian prisoners”.
As Mr Ghukasyan’s protection sponsor, Mr Wells formally requested regular updates on his physical and mental health and concluded with a clear call for his release and the release of all Armenian hostages.
The ANC-AU praised Mr Wells for his principled stance and commitment to human rights.
“Mr Wells has added his voice to a growing number of Australian parliamentarians who are taking a moral stand against Azerbaijan’s unlawful detention of Armenian political leaders,” said ANC-AU Executive Director, Michael Kolokossian.
Kolokossian continued: “Our community deeply values the support of elected representatives like Mr Wells, who recognise that this is not simply an Armenian issue, but a question of universal human rights and dignity. His condemnation of Azerbaijan’s expulsion of the ICRC is particularly significant, as it shines a light on the regime’s attempts to shield its abuses from international scrutiny.”
Wells joins other Australian legislators who have formally written to Azerbaijan’s diplomatic representatives, including Hugh McDermott, Tim James, Matt Cross, Susan Carter, demanding transparency, accountability, and the immediate release of all Armenian hostages currently held in Baku.
