Armenian National Committee of Australia
Jan 5 2025
#FreeArmenianHostages: Michael Sukkar MP Sponsors Armenian Political Prisoner Bako Sahakyan
CANBERRA: The Hon. Michael Sukkar MP – Federal Member for Deakin has written to Azerbaijan’s Chargé d’Affaires, Mr Vagif Jafarov, calling for the immediate release of Armenian political prisoner and former President of the Republic of Artsakh, Bako Sahakyan, reported the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU).
In his letter, Sukkar advised the embassy of his intention to act as a sponsor for Mr Sahakyan and urged the Embassy to provide monthly updates on Mr Sahakyans's physical and mental well-being.
Sukkar, who is one of the over 100 Australian Friends of Artsakh is now the second Australian elected official to sponsor an Armenian hostage illegally imprisoned by Azerbaijani authorities, since Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population living in the Republic of Artsakh in September 2023.
In his letter to Mr Jafarov, Sukkar said: “My decision to sponsor Mr Sahakyan comes in the wake of reports from the lawyers of Armenian political prisoners, in particular Jared Genser who wrote to the UN Special Rapporteur on torture detailing harrowing cases of inhumane treatment.”
Michael Kolokossian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of Australia, expressed the community’s deep gratitude to the Hon. Michael Sukkar MP for his commitment to act as a political sponsor for Mr Bako Sahakyan, underscoring the importance of such advocacy in the fight for justice.
"As the physical and mental well-being of Armenian political prisoners continues to deteriorate, we are intensifying our advocacy efforts to secure their release. Azerbaijan must understand that Australia, along with the international community, is closely monitoring the situation, and we call for the immediate release of all illegally detained individuals," Kolokossian said.
A motion debated in the Australian Federal Parliament’s Federation Chamber on the 3rd of June 2024, championed by Paul Fletcher MP similarly called for pro-Armenian measures, including the release of all Armenian hostages. Read more about the motion here.
In his letter, Sukkar advised the embassy of his intention to act as a sponsor for Mr Sahakyan and urged the Embassy to provide monthly updates on Mr Sahakyans's physical and mental well-being.
Sukkar, who is one of the over 100 Australian Friends of Artsakh is now the second Australian elected official to sponsor an Armenian hostage illegally imprisoned by Azerbaijani authorities, since Azerbaijan’s ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population living in the Republic of Artsakh in September 2023.
In his letter to Mr Jafarov, Sukkar said: “My decision to sponsor Mr Sahakyan comes in the wake of reports from the lawyers of Armenian political prisoners, in particular Jared Genser who wrote to the UN Special Rapporteur on torture detailing harrowing cases of inhumane treatment.”
Michael Kolokossian, Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of Australia, expressed the community’s deep gratitude to the Hon. Michael Sukkar MP for his commitment to act as a political sponsor for Mr Bako Sahakyan, underscoring the importance of such advocacy in the fight for justice.
"As the physical and mental well-being of Armenian political prisoners continues to deteriorate, we are intensifying our advocacy efforts to secure their release. Azerbaijan must understand that Australia, along with the international community, is closely monitoring the situation, and we call for the immediate release of all illegally detained individuals," Kolokossian said.
A motion debated in the Australian Federal Parliament’s Federation Chamber on the 3rd of June 2024, championed by Paul Fletcher MP similarly called for pro-Armenian measures, including the release of all Armenian hostages. Read more about the motion here.
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