GENEVA — The legal representatives of Vicken Euljekjian, a 46-year-old Armenian tour guide arbitrarily detained in Azerbaijan, have formally requested the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) to order his immediate release, citing grave violations of international law and severe detention conditions that endanger his life. Euljekjian was arrested on November 10, 2020, in Shushi (Nagorno-Karabakh), one day after the ceasefire that ended the 2020 Armenia-Azerbaijan war. On June 14, 2021, the Baku Military Court sentenced him to 20 years in prison on charges of “mercenary activity” and “terrorism.” His lawyers argue that his detention and conviction are arbitrary and violate fundamental human rights protections. The petition, submitted by María Luciana Minassian (Argentina) and Aitor Martínez Jiménez (Spain), advances two key arguments: Jurisdictional violation — Azerbaijan treated Euljekjian as a civilian, yet a military court tried and convicted him, contrary to established UNWGAD precedent that military courts lack jurisdiction over civilians. Misapplication of the “mercenary” charge — As an Armenian national, Euljekjian cannot be legally classified as a mercenary under the Geneva Conventions. Additionally, his lawyers have requested the recusal of WGAD member Ganna Yudkivska due to potential conflicts of interest arising from her professional association with the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and personal ties to Azerbaijan. The petition references an expert opinion by the founding Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Luis Moreno Ocampo, and a formal complaint submitted by the Center for Truth and Justice (CFTJ), a Los Angeles-based organization defending the rights of Armenians affected by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Luciana Minassian is an Argentine-Armenian lawyer representing Armenian victims, a Professor of Genocide Studies at the University of Tucumán, and a Senate candidate in Buenos Aires. Aitor Martínez is a Spanish lawyer and professor, with extensive experience before the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. He has represented Julian Assange and other relevant figures worldwide. He has successfully brought cases against different countries before UN and other international mechanisms. He is also Counsel before the International Criminal Court. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, established in 1991 as part of the UN Human Rights Council’s special procedures, investigates cases of unlawful deprivation of liberty and issues legal opinions, urgent appeals, and recommendations for remedies, including release and reparations.