Submit a trial alert to the Clooney Foundation for Justice, to bring to their attention of the Armenian POWs’ trial in Azerbaijan that poses a significant risk of human rights violations.
Step 1:
Submit at: https://cfj.org/trialalert/
Step 2:
For the section “DEFENDANT OR DESCRIPTION OF DEFENDANT” copy the following:
Vicken Euljekjian, a dual Lebanese-Armenian citizen of Armenian descent, was tried, convicted and sentenced this week in a Baku court to 20 years in prison on trumped-up terrorism charges.
In addition to Vicken’s case, there are at least 14 other Armenians currently in proceedings in Azerbaijan, but the true number may be upwards of 50.
Step 3:
For the section “NATURE OF CONCERN”, check “Defendant is a minority”
Step 4:
For the section “PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS TO EXPLAIN WHY YOU THINK THIS TRIAL SHOULD BE MONITORED” copy the following:
Vicken has less than 3 weeks to appeal his sentence and it is believed that he is UNREPRESENTED BY COUNSEL ON APPEAL. It is unclear whether interpretation services are being provided so that he can understand the charges against him or the proceedings. Because Armenia and Azerbaijan have no diplomatic relations, Armenians are unable to obtain even the most basic information regarding the trial, including whether Vicken had counsel in the initial hearings.
Along with the other 14 POWs’ trials, all of these trials present a significant risk of human rights violations, as Armenians are a hated ethnic group in Azerbaijan. These particular 14 POWs are being prosecuted for violations of Articles 214.2.1, 214.2.3 of the Criminal Code (terrorism committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy, by an organized group or criminal association (criminal organization), with the use of firearms and objects used as weapons), Art. 228.3 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation or carrying of weapons, component parts for them, ammunition, explosives and explosive devices committed by an organized group), 279.2 (creation of armed formations or groups not provided for by law) and 318.2 (illegal crossing the state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan by a group of persons by prior conspiracy or by an organized group, or with the use of violence or with the threat of its use). However, it is clear that these charges are used as a means to cover up the fact that Azerbaijan is prosecuting the 14 POWs for their participation in the war, which is a clear violation of international law.
Additional info:
https://www.asbarez.com/azerbaijan-sentences-lebanese-armenian-vicken-euljekjian-to-20-years/
(From Azeri perspective but contains lots of info)
