On the eve of US Vice President J.D. Vance's visit to Armenia and Azerbaijan, more than 20 Armenian human rights and civil society organizations sent him an open letter calling for support for the release of Armenian prisoners held in Baku.

The letter emphasizes that life sentences and lengthy prison terms handed down in "sham trials" are "incompatible with the peace agenda." The signatories draw Vance's attention to the "critical humanitarian issue" and express hope that his visit to Armenia "will serve as an impetus for strengthening Armenian-American relations and establishing sustainable peace in the region."

"The release of all Armenians deprived of liberty in the context of armed conflict is of paramount importance to the peace process and is a critical confidence-building measure." "Unfortunately, 19 Armenian Christians remain in Azerbaijani prisons and continue to suffer," the letter reads.

The text also notes that the issue of releasing the prisoners was raised in August 2025 at meetings at the White House, particularly during the preliminary signing of the peace agreement brokered by US President Donald Trump. Regarding the latter, the authors of the appeal emphasize that the protection of persecuted Christians was a priority for him even during his election campaign. The letter emphasizes the critical importance of active support from the current US administration, especially in light of statements from official Baku that effectively rule out the possibility of the return of the former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh.

"We are convinced that the US administration is uniquely positioned to play a decisive role in securing the release of Armenian Christians held in Baku.

Today, under the leadership of President Trump, Armenia and Azerbaijan are taking steps towards peace. However, it is clear that Azerbaijan's promises of peace cannot be convincing to Armenian society as long as Armenian prisoners continue to be held illegally, and they and their families are subjected to suffering.

We, the undersigned human rights organizations, are convinced that resolving humanitarian issues is the foundation for building trust between the two countries. Without such trust, sustainable peace is impossible," the NGOs concluded.