The Return of Armenian Prisoners: Humanism, or…?

Aynur Elgunesh

Aynur Elgunesh, the imprisoned editor-in-chief of Meydan TV, writes from prison:

Azerbaijan has handed over 4 Armenian prisoners to Armenia. Among them, the most famous in Azerbaijan was Vagif Cherkezi Khachaturyan. He was found guilty under two articles of the Criminal Code—genocide and the deportation or forced displacement of the population. He was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment under these articles. Witnesses testifying at Khachaturyan's trial said that he and his group burned people alive. It was also reported that people were taken hostage.

For this reason, the release of Armenian prisoners to their own country has caused dissatisfaction among many, especially the segment that has wholeheartedly supported Ilham Aliyev’s calls for war and revenge for years. I am not even mentioning the state of mind of those who testified in those trials. There are even those who condemn this step while there are about 400 political prisoners in the country.

First of all, let me say that my attitude towards the return of Armenian prisoners to Armenia is positive. As a pacifist, I applaud steps taken towards peacebuilding, stability, and the deepening of relations. I believe that both nations have suffered enough from the war, and to rebuild neighborly relations, it is necessary to bury the tragedies experienced into the pages of history and stay away from the feeling of revenge. This is important at least so that future generations and young people do not die.

As for the Azerbaijani government evaluating this as a humanitarian step, I do not hold this opinion; I disagree. This step was taken after Ilham Aliyev's meeting with representatives of the US Congress, and the goal is purely to fulfill the wishes of the US—especially Trump, whose actions are currently shocking the world. This also serves to prevent sanctions and resolutions planned by other international organizations regarding Azerbaijan.

Naturally, the result is very important, but the motive cannot be ignored. The fact that European and US institutions approach it more from this context also causes the Azerbaijani government to view human rights through a prism that serves its own interests.

As for the other political prisoners, they are individuals whom Ilham Aliyev considers personal enemies. These individuals—that is, we—are being punished because we are not obedient citizens acting according to the will of the government. Here, it is not our conviction or civic stance that plays a role, but specifically our attitude toward the government. For example, Meydan TV employees have never supported Ilham Aliyev’s war policy. They were proponents of peace both then and now. At the same time, the majority of the arrested politicians are those who supported Ilham Aliyev’s war calls, were by his side at that time, and even participated in the war. Therefore, it is not our public position, but our relationship with Ilham Aliyev's government that plays a role in our imprisonment. In short, a personal enemy is considered more dangerous than a common enemy.

Although I am not naive enough to hope for this, I believe that international institutions, especially the US, should approach issues related to Azerbaijan fully within the framework of human rights. Creating sincere relations with a country where there is no diversity or freedom of expression is, at the very least, contrary to the values of the institutions that challenge the world. Furthermore, a government that does not respect its own citizens' opinions and disregards them cannot be humanitarian. Humanism either exists or it doesn't; it should not change according to individuals or relationships.

Aynur Elgunesh