Families of Armenian detainees held in Baku have addressed an open letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, currently in Armenia, calling for efforts to secure the immediate and unconditional release of those held, Sputnik Armenia reports, citing freearmenianprisoners.com .

Around 50 high-level delegations, including Carney, have arrived in Armenia for the 8th European Political Community summit in Yerevan.

In the letter, the families stressed that Canada has demonstrated principled leadership in combating arbitrary detention and hostage diplomacy.

“By establishing the position of a Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs and being a leader in the Declaration Against Arbitrary Detention in State-to-State Relations, Canada has affirmed that individuals must not be used as political leverage between states. With full respect, we note that what is happening to our relatives fully corresponds to the spirit and purpose of these commitments,” the letter states.

The families called on Canada to use its voice, diplomatic ties, and relations with the European Union, the U.S., and other countries that have joined the declaration against arbitrary detention to exert coordinated pressure on Azerbaijan.

The letter emphasized that Azerbaijan’s stated commitment to peace cannot inspire confidence among Armenians while Armenian prisoners remain in captivity. It noted that only their release and return home can serve as an essential foundation for a genuine peace process and a key measure for building trust.

“Your visit to Yerevan is an important opportunity to demonstrate that Canada’s commitment to ending arbitrary detention is not only words but action. With the utmost respect, we urge you to meet with the families of those detained in Baku, listen to us, and raise the issue of Armenian prisoners in your meetings with other leaders,” the letter states.

The relatives also expressed confidence that Canada can play a principled and constructive role in ending their families’ suffering.

According to the report, several Armenian figures held in Baku have received lengthy prison sentences, including Ruben Vardanyan (20 years) and Arayik Harutyunyan (life imprisonment), along with other former officials and representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh.