SYDNEY: Member of the NSW Legislative Council, Jacqui Munro, has formally written to the Armenian National Committee of Australia advising her decision to sponsor Armenian political leader David Babayan, former Foreign Minister of Artsakh, who is currently detained in Azerbaijan.
Mr Babayan is one of 23 Armenians illegally held in Azerbaijan since the complete ethnic cleansing of Artsakh in September 2023, with the detention of hostages raising concerns among international human rights organisations and governments.
In a letter addressed to the Chargé d’Affaires of Azerbaijan, Mr Vagif Jafarov, Munro has expressed deep concern over Azerbaijan’s continued detention of Armenian hostages and its recent closure of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) office, calling for the immediate release of all Armenian hostages.
The letter also addresses the recent peace deal signed by Armenia and Azerbaijan and notes the failure to address the release of hostages. The letter reads: “I welcome the peace process signed between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the United States, with the hopes that it will not result in future impositions on the sovereignty of Armenia. However, I am concerned that the current framework does not allow for the release of Armenian hostages. A lasting and just peace for all must include the release of these hostages.”
Munro joins NSW Parliamentary colleagues Dr Hugh McDermott MP, The Hon. Susan Carter MLC, Mr Tim James MP, and Mr Matt Cross MP, and Victorian Parliamentarian Kim Wells MP, who have also sponsored detained Armenians, in calling for an end to politically motivated trials and the immediate release of all Armenian hostages.
Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) Executive Director Michael Kolokossian welcomed the decision from the Hon. Munro, stressing the importance of international advocacy on behalf of detained Armenians.
“These hostages are being used as political leverage to humiliate the Armenian nation and to erase Artsakh’s leadership from the international stage,” Mr Kolokossian said. “Their freedom is not only a matter of human rights but also of dignity for the Armenian people. We commend Ms Munro and all parliamentarians who have taken a stand against Azerbaijan’s unjust practices.”
The ANC-AU continues to call on the Australian Government and international community to apply pressure on Azerbaijan to release all Armenian political detainees and restore access to independent humanitarian organisations.