Americans for Artsakh petition UN Working Group for release of Artsakh’s former foreign minister

Americans for Artsakh (AFA) submitted a petition to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) requesting the release of Davit Babayan, former foreign minister of the Republic of Artsakh, who is currently held in an undisclosed detention facility in Baku, Azerbaijan. This petition follows a Nov. 14, 2025 announcement by Azerbaijani prosecutors that they would seek sentences of up to life imprisonment for 15 former leaders and officials of Artsakh, including Babayan.

According to AFA, Babayan is among 31 individuals held in detention in Azerbaijan in connection with the recent conflicts involving Artsakh. The petition requests, among other measures, an end to reported solitary confinement and restrictions on basic needs, access to medical care, family members and legal counsel, as well as a prompt and independent review of the lawfulness of his detention.

The petition argues that Babayan’s detention is incompatible with Azerbaijan’s obligations under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It further notes that, given Babayan’s prior role as foreign minister, his case raises additional questions under the Articles on Diplomatic Protection adopted by the UN International Law Commission in 2006.