BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 25. The Azerbaijani
NGOs have issued an Open Letter, entitled as Upholding Law, Order,
and the Vision for Trump Corridor for International Peace and
Prosperity, responding to the U.S.-based Lemkin Institute’s (Lemkin
Institute for Genocide Prevention) call to release ethnic Armenian
individuals accused of war crimes, including Ruben Vardanyan, to
U.S. President Donald Trump, Trend reports.
The letter criticized the Lemkin Institute for attempting to
undermine peace efforts in the South Caucasus, including
initiatives led by U.S. President Donald Trump. It highlights that
the institute, under the management of figures like Lucy Mirzoyan,
promotes divisive ethnic and religious agendas and aligns with
revanchist groups in Armenia, threatening the peace agenda between
Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Before that, on December 23, the Azerbaijan National NGO Forum,
addressing the Open Letter to the institute itself, accused it of
expressing the interests of the revanchist group in Armenia and
trying to undermine the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and
Armenia. It was noted that the Lemkin Institute, which turned a
blind eye to mass massacres such as the Khojaly genocide, betrays
its declared mission in the first place. The Azerbaijan National
NGO Forum called on the Lemkin Institute to apologize to the
Azerbaijani public for its provocative calls.
Mr. President,
“We, the representatives of the Azerbaijani civil society, human
rights advocates, and survivors of decades of ethnic cleansing,
extend our warmest greetings to you, a leader who guides the world
with kindness. We recognize in your leadership a kindred spirit –
one that values worldwide peace, and has the courage to broker
historic deals that others deemed impossible.
We write to you to provide a grounded, fact-based perspective on
recent campaigns led by the so-called Lemkin Institute, which seek
to undermine the very peace you have championed. While these groups
use the sentiment of the Christmas season and New Year mood to call
for the release of “detainees”, we respectfully ask you to look
beyond the rhetoric and to assess these individuals based on their
prior actions: due to their criminal activities about 1/5 of
Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized territories remained under
the occupation of Armenia for more than three decades and nearly a
million Azerbaijanis were subjected to ethnic cleansing.
Thanks to your leadership as a peacemaker, the South Caucasus
region is experiencing the most peaceful period of the last 35
years. This achievement is something you personally secured through
the historic Washington Joint Declaration of August 8, 2025.
Mr. President,
Individuals conducting misinformation campaigns seek to present
persons charged with financing terrorism and waging aggressive war,
and committing crimes against humanity over 30 years of illegal
occupation as “hostages,” whose actions resulted in the forced
displacement of nearly one million Azerbaijanis and the systematic
destruction of hundreds of peaceful settlements.
One of the detained persons is a Russian-Armenian oligarch,
Ruben Vardanyan, who is well known for his past ties to USAID Chief
Samantha Power. He was sent to the region to act as the “state
minister” in the puppet regime established in the formerly occupied
territories of Azerbaijan, to ensure that peace is never achieved
in the South Caucasus region.
Azerbaijan is conducting these trials with transparency and in
accordance with international obligations. The legal proceedings,
including those for Ruben Vardanyan, are conducted under the
scrutiny of judicial panels and are open to the public.
Attempts to frame this as religious persecution are absolutely
false. Azerbaijan remains a proud, secular country where Muslims,
Christians and Jews have lived in harmony for centuries. For
instance, the official gathering of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints was held in the capital city of Baku last month.
Also, the second Catholic church, the construction of which is
financed by the Azerbaijani state, is currently under construction
in the capital city. These facts once again showcase Azerbaijan’s
commitment to interfaith dialogue and tolerance. There are many
more examples like this.
Mr. President,
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan was never a
religious one. Some malign actors are doing their best to undermine
the peace in the region achieved through your personal involvement.
In the spirit of the Washington Arrangements, confidence-building
measures between Azerbaijan and Armenia have been initiated, and
economic ties are being restored.
You and your Administration showed the world that American might
goes hand-in-hand with peacebuilding and justice. We welcome the
appeal of the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia to the Nobel Peace
Committee to award you the Nobel Peace Prize.
Through your leadership, several decades-long conflicts around
the world have become part of history rather than a present
reality. We believe that spoilers like the Lemkin Institute will
never achieve their goal of misleading the American public.
With deepest respect for your leadership and vision,
The Representatives of Azerbaijani Civil Society
1. Ramil Iskandarli – Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan
National NGO Forum
2. Vladimir Timoshenko – Retired Major General, Member of the
Board of Veterans of War, Armed Forces, and Labor of the Republic
of Azerbaijan
3. Novella Jafarova – Chairwoman of the Dilara Aliyeva
Azerbaijan Women’s Rights Society
4. Saadat Bananyarli – Chairwoman of the “Azerbaijan National
Unit of the International Human Rights Society” Public Union
5. Saltanat Gojamanli – Chairwoman of the “Protection of Human
Rights and Legality” Public Union
6. Amir Aliyev – Chairman of the “Center for the Promotion of
Human Rights” Public Union
7. Alimammad Nuriyev – Head of the “Constitution” Research
Fund
8. Zaur Mammadov – Chairman of the Baku Club of Political
Scientists
9. Rey Gasimov – Chairman of the “Association of Landmine
Victims in Azerbaijan” Public Union
10. Hafiz Safikhanov – Chairman of the “Azerbaijan Campaign
Against Landmines” Public Union
11. Zaur Ibrahimli – Chairman of the “Priority” Social Economic
Research Center Public Union
12. Konul Behbudova – Chairwoman of the “Karabakh Missing
Families” Public Union
13. Ayaz Mirzayev – Chairman of the “Azerbaijani Journalists
Network” Public Union
14. Dilgam Ahmad – Chairman of the “Chapar – Center for the
Study of National Heritage” Public Union
15. Fuad Mammadov – Chairman of the “Simurg” Azerbaijan Cultural
Association
16. Fariz Khalilli – Chairman of the “Miras” Public Association
for the Promotion of Cultural Heritage
17. Umud Rahimoghlu – Chairman of the International Eurasia
Press Fund
18. Mubariz Asgarov – Chairman of the “Objective” Public Union
for the Promotion of National Values
19. Shahla Naghiyeva – Chairwoman of the “Sonmez Mashal”
Cultural Relations Public Union
20. Gamar Baghirova – Chairwoman of the Jafar Jabbarli Public
Association for the Development of Culture, Science and
Education
21. Sevinc Alizade – Chairwoman of the “Victory” Support to
Families of Martyrs Public Union
22. Tunzala Abdullalimova – Chairwoman of the “For the
Motherland – Support to Families of Martyrs” Public Union
23. Jeyran Hasanova – Chairwoman of the “Support to Mothers of
Martyrs” Public Union
24. Agil Jamal – Chairman of the “Common Values” Public
Union
25. Vugar Gadirov – Chairman of the “Youth Organization for
Return and Revival” Public Union
26. Khalid Kazimov – Chairman of the Regional Human Rights and
Media Center Public Union
27. Ahmad Abbasbayli – Chairman of the “Center for Development
of Society” Public Union
28. Irada Rzazada – Chairperson of the Public Union “For Social
Well-being of Citizens.”
29. Keramet Ismayılov – Chairman of the Public Union for
Economic and Social Development
30. Fikret Yusifov – President of the “Economics” International
Economic Research Public Union,” the letter said.