LIBERTAS* deeply regrets to announce the death of former Armenian prisoner of war Karlen Stepanyan, who passed away from cancer on 10 June. Together with its Armenian partners, the ARPI** NGO of Vanadzor and the Seda Ghazarian Mental Health Centre (INTRA***) in Yerevan, LIBERTAS mourns his loss after a long and difficult battle with illness. He was 52 years old. After being taken captive, he was abandoned by his wife. Ill and without resources, he survived for a time thanks to the modest pension of his sick mother. Following her death last winter, after being alerted by ARPI to his dire health and housing conditions, LIBERTAS mobilized its resources to come to his aid. For LIBERTAS, this death once again highlights the inhumane situation faced by former hostages and prisoners of war after their release, due to the absence of an official status that would guarantee support and care for the serious difficulties they experience upon returning from captivity. In January of this year, the Armenian Parliament rightly adopted legislation granting a special status to persons who went missing following Azerbaijan’s aggression in 2020. However, to this day, the humiliations, physical torture, and psychological abuse suffered by Armenian military personnel and civilians who were held captive in Azerbaijan are not recognized as injuries resulting from their service in the defense of the country and therefore do not benefit from the support and compensation they deserve. LIBERTAS has conducted a comparative study examining the treatment of hostages and their families in a number of countries, both democratic and non-democratic. The study highlights the existence of support mechanisms addressing the main consequences of captivity, including necessary physical and psychological care, housing assistance, professional and social reintegration measures, and support for their children. Today, such a comprehensive approach is lacking in Armenia, where former captives often appear to be left to face these challenges alone after their release. LIBERTAS believes that this situation must change. To this end, the organization is committed to holding an international conference in Yerevan next October, bringing together legal experts, non-governmental organizations, and specialists in post-traumatic care in order to draw the attention of Armenian society and political decision-makers to this critical issue. For further information about the conference, please contact: contact@libertas.com *LIBERTAS works for the release of Armenian state hostages and for the rehabilitation and reintegration of released prisoners. **ARPI is an Armenian non-governmental organization. Its social workers and psychologists provide psychological and social support to former prisoners of war on the ground, in cooperation with INTRA, within the framework of LIBERTAS’s program. Initially established to assist women and children affected by the 1988 earthquake, ARPI now also cooperates with the Aznavour Foundation. ***INTRA (Seda Ghazarian Mental Health Foundation, Yerevan) is LIBERTAS’s partner in implementing psychological and social support programmes for former prisoners of war in Armenia. Under the direction of Khachatur Gasparyan, INTRA also cooperates with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Delegation in Armenia, as well as with Santé Arménie and the Vinatier Psychiatric Hospital in Lyon, France. Follow LIBERTAS: Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/libertas2020_ X (Twitter) : https://twitter.com/FreeArmenianPOW LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/libertas2020/ Telegram : https://t.me/LIBERTAS_2020 Site web : https://www.libertas2020.com/

European Parliament: 14 resolutions shelved by the European Commission On May 4, during the European Political Community Summit in Yerevan, in a highly inflammatory speech*, President Aliyev accused the European Parliament of adopting 14 resolutions “filled with insults and lies about Azerbaijan.” He portrayed the latest resolution**, dated April 30, as a “provocation” aimed at “dragging the region into war.” In this case, these “insults, lies, and provocations” refer to the European Parliament’s legitimate demands for the release of Armenian prisoners, the right to a safe return for residents expelled from Artsakh, and holding those responsible for the destruction of Armenian cultural and religious heritage accountable—all accompanied by the establishment of an international assessment mission. Aliyev continued his offensive by announcing the Azerbaijani Parliament’s suspension of all cooperation with the European Parliament, as well as its withdrawal from the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly. The brutality of his remarks prompted a strong reaction from European Parliament President Roberta Metsola***, who reminded the dictator of the democratic nature of the European Parliament, whose positions Europeans are determined to defend unwaveringly. Roberta Metsola and Ilham Aliyev LIBERTAS deplores the fact that the President of the European Parliament was the only one in the entire audience to respond to this verbal aggression by the despot of Baku. Could this be out of fear of offending Ilham Aliyev so as not to jeopardize her privileged relationship with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who had described him as a “reliable partner” of Europe in the aftermath of the war crimes he committed in 2020—a veritable prelude to the ethnic cleansing of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023? LIBERTAS notes a parallel between this silence in the face of the vilification of the supreme democratic institution representing the peoples of the EU and the European executive’s disregard for the 14 parliamentary resolutions concerning ethnic cleansing, the right of Armenians to return to their lands, and the necessary release of the 20 Armenian prisoners sentenced to harsh terms following sham trials, all marred by violations of the fundamental rights of these state hostages. To date, by refusing to fulfill its obligations, the Commission is siding with an autocrat who, with complete impunity, rejects the EU’s democratic operating principles. LIBERTAS commends the exemplary commitment of the European Parliament and calls on the executive branch to implement the resolutions of the European democratic body in its dealings with Azerbaijan. Without this adjustment, Europeans would fail to understand that, unlike in the conflict in Ukraine, commercial interests take precedence over democracy and justice in the case of Azerbaijan. To this day, they do not understand the European Commission’s refusal to impose sanctions on a genocidal leader, and even less so its silence in the face of the humiliation suffered and the undermining of the European democratic system by a despot. LIBERTAS is working for the release of Armenian state hostages and the rehabilitation of freed prisoners. PDF version of this LIBERTAS press release: https://cba5a4cc-f0e0-4fc4-8ca4-28ca80f25e0f.usrfiles.com/ugd/cba5a4_b2934584078c4e22ab6d169402b1a75f.pdf Follow LIBERTAS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/libertas2020_ X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/FreeArmenianPOW LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/libertas2020/ Telegram: https://t.me/LIBERTAS_2020 Website: https://www.libertas2020.com/ *https://fr.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/05/04/en-armenie-le-president-azerbaidjanais-regle-ses-comptes-avec-lue **European Parliament resolution of April 30, 2026 in English: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/RC-10-2026-0195_EN.html ***Roberta Metsola’s response to Aliyev, watch the video: https://youtu.be/I63AYgQME0w?si=YN4bkZyJDcFePRQI

FREE ARMENIAN HOSTAGES! LIBERTAS’ APPEAL TO THE EUROPEAN POLITICAL COMMUNITY For the release of the 20 Armenian hostages, For the right of return for Armenians expelled from Artsakh Ladies and Gentlemen, Heads of State*, as you gather in Armenia to address the theme of Unity and Stability in Europe, the Armenian people welcoming you to their capital feel threatened by the warmongering policy of neighboring Azerbaijan, manifested in creeping aggression and a constant denial of their rights and sovereignty. This policy includes, in particular, systemic anti-Armenian racism generated by the highest echelons of the state, irredentist schemes coveting Armenian lands as part of a fantasized “Western Azerbaijan,” and the criminalization of Armenians wherever they may be in the world. Baku is holding 20 Armenian state hostages in its prisons, deprived of humanitarian assistance since the ICRC was expelled from Azerbaijan in 2025: civilians, military personnel, and political leaders who, following sham trials worthy of the Stalinist regime, have been sentenced to harsh terms ranging up to life imprisonment. Some are seriously ill and require medical care that has been denied to them to this day. Azerbaijan is threatening Armenia with an extension of its policy of extermination carried out in Nagorno-Karabakh, which resulted in the complete ethnic cleansing of its Armenian population in 2023, followed by the destruction of its millennia-old cultural and religious heritage through bombings that continue to this day. During this summit, you will address issues of European security and the tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We are convinced that Europe will not be secure if it remains silent about these crimes on its border. Gathered in Armenia, you cannot in good conscience ignore these violations of the rights and dignity of the people who are hosting you. Resolutions by the European Parliament and EU member states have repeatedly called for the release of Armenian state hostages and for the affirmation of the right of return, backed by international guarantees, for the indigenous Armenian inhabitants of Nagorno-Karabakh, who are victims of ethnic cleansing. However, these resolutions have gone unheeded, and these crimes have not featured prominently in European policy toward Azerbaijan, despite the country’s guilt for war crimes and crimes against humanity. On the occasion of this summit, which we welcome, we call on you to make these resolutions binding. Demand that Azerbaijan release the Armenian hostages as a preliminary gesture of its willingness to make peace with Armenia, under threat of sanctions. Baku has been violating international law with impunity for far too many years! Hilda Tchoboian – Coordinator of LIBERTAS www.libertas2020.com / Contact: Tel: +33652955628 Contact@libertas2020.com LIBERTAS works for the release of Armenian state hostages and the rehabilitation of released prisoners *List of the 48 countries whose heads of state or government were invited to the eighth summit of the European Political Community: the 27 EU member states Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Georgia, Iceland, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom **This appeal in PDF format (English): https://cba5a4cc-f0e0-4fc4-8ca4-28ca80f25e0f.usrfiles.com/ugd/cba5a4_b2934584078c4e22ab6d169402b1a75f.pdf

In an interview*, the Member of the European Parliament, on April 14, 2026, spoke in favor of joint pressure by the EU and Armenian authorities on Azerbaijan, demanding the release of Armenian state hostages: • Armenian prisoners-hostages “The terms for the prisoners’ release are not clearly defined, but it is necessary to act as quickly as possible. The EU must use its influence on Azerbaijan. Coordination with the Armenian government is needed to jointly strengthen this pressure with a view to the prisoners’ release.”   • Ethnic cleansing of Armenians in Artsakh “Their suffering must not be forgotten. In the future, conditions must be guaranteed so that those who wish to do so can return home in safety and dignity, without being subjected to unacceptable conditions. The EU must play a role in engaging with the Azerbaijani side to find solutions in accordance with international law.”   • Destruction of cultural and religious heritage “The heritage of Nagorno-Karabakh is part of our shared Christian and European heritage and must be protected from any damage. The European Union should intensify its efforts to ensure the preservation of this heritage.”   LIBERTAS joins Ms. LEXMANN in calling on the European Commission to take action. LIBERTAS finds it regrettable that, to date, Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has remained unacceptably silent on these crimes. It reminds us that amid the general chaos in the world, where international law is trampled upon daily, the EU must distinguish itself from dictatorial regimes by reestablishing its founding principles in its relations with Azerbaijan, a member of the Eastern Partnership. Time does not erase crimes, and Europe must act. LIBERTAS is working for the release of Armenian state hostages and the rehabilitation of released prisoners   *https://armenpress.am/en/article/1247223   Follow LIBERTAS : Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/libertas2020_ X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/FreeArmenianPOW LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/libertas2020/ Telegram: https://t.me/LIBERTAS_2020 Web site: https://www.libertas2020.com/

LIBERTAS welcomes the question posed to the French Minister of Foreign Affairs by Representative Christelle d’Intorni regarding the Armenian hostages and thanks her for her commitment. The MP for Alpes-Maritimes submitted a written question* to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs on April 14 regarding the situation of Armenian state hostages detained in Azerbaijan, in which she highlights: the arrest of Armenian political, military, and civilian officials following the events of September 2023 humanitarian and international concerns the need to ensure respect for international humanitarian law , access to legal assistance, and independent monitoring mechanisms. Libertas reminds that Azerbaijan has been holding 20 Armenian hostages since 2020. The 20th is Karen Avanesyan, a sick man who remained in Stepanakert after the ethnic cleansing of Armenians in 2023 and was arrested in September 2025 on absurd pretexts. He must not be forgotten. LIBERTAS calls on the French government: To officially support the appeal by 36 Members of the European Parliament to Kaja Kallas for targeted sanctions against those responsible for arbitrary detentions in Azerbaijan To demand that the Azerbaijani authorities allow the ICRC to return to Baku without delay To work toward the immediate release of the 20 Armenian hostages, as well as the notification of verdicts in a language understood by each detainee To ensure that fundamental rights and international humanitarian law are respected Time does not erase crimes. France must stand up for human rights and the rule of law. *Link to Written Question No. 14330 (in French) ։ https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dyn/17/questions/QANR5L17QE14330.pdf

In response to the abandonment of Armenian prisoners arbitrarily detained in Baku (no access to the ICRC, no notification of verdicts, total isolation), their relatives have appealed to the Armenian and Swiss authorities and the ICRC. They are asking Switzerland to assume the role of “Protecting Power,” a mechanism provided for by the Geneva Conventions to ensure respect for the rights of detainees during times of conflict. LIBERTAS supports this request. International humanitarian law must not remain a dead letter. Link to the article : https://iclaw.am/media/announcement/5/details

Karen Avanesyan

LIBERTAS condemns Azerbaijan’s violations of Ruben Vardanyan’s rights and calls for his immediate release, as well as that of the other hostages from Armenian states.

LIBERTAS welcomes and supports the call* by 36 Members of the European Parliament addressed to Kaja Kallas: it is time to apply European resolutions in response to Azerbaijan’s violations of the law. The 36 deputies , from all political groups, in a letter to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, essentially demand : • The activation of the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime for human rights violations in Azerbaijan, • The suspension of energy cooperation as long as Baku fails to meet its commitments, • Restrictive measures against those responsible for arbitrary detentions and unfair trials . LIBERTAS endorses these demands and is convinced that Europe’s firmness will notably contribute to the release of the 20 Armenian hostages who are languishing in Baku’s prisons without a fair trial, without access to the ICRC, and without being notified of their verdict. LIBERTAS encourages European citizens to read the letter* and resolutions** in question and to contact their national and European elected representatives to demand that these sanctions finally be implemented, and to massively share this call . * Call of the 36 deputies: https://cba5a4cc-f0e0-4fc4-8ca4-28ca80f25e0f.usrfiles.com ... ** European resolutions and regulations mentioned in the letter: Resolution adopted on 30 October 2025 by the Political Committee of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/.../Resolution%20on%20the ... (extract from Article 16: “the need to resolve the outstanding issues of Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan and displaced Armenians from the former Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous region”) Resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 18 December 2025 entitled “The detention of opposition figures in Azerbaijan” – procedure 2025/2596(RSP): https://www.europarl.europa.eu/.../violations-des-droits ... Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2588 of 15 December 2025: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/2588/oj/eng LIBERTAS  Press Release (in French) "L’Europe doit enfin sanctionner l’Azerbaïdjan" : https://cba5a4cc-f0e0-4fc4-8ca4-28ca80f25e0f.usrfiles.com/ugd/cba5a4_86a45f48ef1a4a4fbe78f741e4e31acb.pdf

Voting results: 183 for / against 0 from 3:35:40, Laurent Wauquiez 's speech, followed by speeches from other group representatives from 4:31:15, speech by Jean Noël Barrot , Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs

The 4 demands of the transpartisan resolution No. 2265 presented by Laurent Wauquiez on behalf of 46 MPs: 1. Reiterates its support for the Armenian people of Artsakh who have been forcibly expelled from their ancestral homeland; 2. Reiterates that respect for the right of peoples to self-determination must apply to the Armenian populations of Artsakh and that it is the duty of the international community to demand that Azerbaijan do everything in its power to guarantee the right of return of the Armenian populations to Artsakh in conditions that ensure their safety; 3. Condemns the arbitrary imprisonment and trial of political leaders of the Republic of Artsakh and calls for their immediate and unconditional release ; 4. Calls on the Government to demand that the Republic of Azerbaijan release the Armenian prisoners it is holding without delay .