SYDNEY: The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) has welcomed a powerful letter from the New South Wales Member for Davidson, Mr Matt Cross MP, who pledged to sponsor Mr Davit Ishkhanyan — the former Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) — and called for the immediate release of all Armenian hostages.
In his letter addressed to the Azerbaijani Chargé d'Affaires, Mr Vagif Jafarov, Mr Cross stated: “In my capacity as the Member for Davidson, I have taken the decision to personally sponsor the Armenian political leader Mr Davit Ishkhanyan - former President of the National Assembly of Artsakh who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan.”
Cross’s letter highlights Azerbaijan’s long-standing record of mistreatment and human rights abuse towards their political prisoners, stating that: “I met with a former political prisoner of Azerbaijan, Mr Alexander Lapshin, who detailed the extreme abuse and mistreatment he received whilst imprisoned in Azerbaijan.”
As Mr Ishkhanyan’s protection sponsor, Mr Cross formally requested regular updates on the detainee’s physical and mental health, aiming to improve transparency around the conditions of Armenian hostages held in Baku.
The ANC-AU praised Mr Cross for his vocal support of Artsakh’s former political leaders and expressed the Armenian-Australian community’s gratitude for his continued support.
“Mr Cross is now the fourth legislator from New South Wales to join the growing list of Australian politicians demanding transparency and justice from the Aliyev regime by personally sponsoring Armenian political prisoners held in Baku,” said ANC-AU Executive Director, Mr Michael Kolokossian.
Kolokossian continued, “Our community is deeply grateful for the principled stand taken by our elected representatives. However, the fight is far from over. The international community must act urgently to hold the Aliyev regime accountable, or risk enabling its ongoing genocidal policies against Armenians.”
Cross joins a growing group of New South Wales parliamentarians — including Susan Carter MLC, Hugh McDermott MP (Prospect), and Tim James MP (Willoughby) — who have also written to the Azerbaijani Chargé d’Affaires, calling for transparency regarding the treatment of Armenian hostages and their immediate release.
