Armenian POWs Denied Bibles, Religious Cross Tattoos Burned in Azerbaijani Prison

Armenian POWs held in Azerbaijan are facing serious restrictions on their religious rights while in detention in Baku, according to information presented by human rights lawyer Siranush Sahakyan. The concerns involve denial of access to religious materials, confiscation of religious symbols, and harsh treatment linked to the prisoners’ Christian identity.

Sahakyan, who heads the International and Comparative Law Center and represents Armenian prisoners before the European Court of Human Rights, raised these issues during a press conference held on Saturday. She stated that Armenian detainees are being prevented from receiving religious items, including the Bible, without any clear or official explanation from Azerbaijani authorities.

One of the most serious cases involves former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan. According to Sahakyan, Azerbaijani authorities have taken a different and more severe approach in his case compared to other Armenian prisoners. She said his contact with the outside world has become more limited over time, and his isolation has increased.

“We have observed a distinct pattern in Ruben Vardanyan’s case. His isolation has intensified,” Sahakyan said.

Information received from Vardanyan’s family shows that the number of his phone calls has been reduced. Sahakyan explained that, in general, 16 Armenian detainees are allowed to make one phone call per week, usually on Wednesdays. In contrast, seven convicted prisoners are allowed to make phone calls only once every four to six weeks. However, she noted that even these limited rules are not being followed consistently in Vardanyan’s case.

“For reasons that remain unclear, he is being isolated, his trial is being delayed, and he is being deprived of the opportunity to deliver a final statement,” she said.

Beyond communication restrictions, Sahakyan stressed that the treatment of Armenian prisoners includes a clear religious element. She said the prisoners are Christians and that their faith appears to play a role in how they are treated while in custody.

“We are dealing specifically with the conviction of Christian Armenians, and the role of Christianity as a factor in their treatment is evident in several issues related to religious symbols,” she stated.

According to Sahakyan, while some books are allowed to be sent to Armenian detainees, the Bible is reportedly banned. She said there has been no official reason given for this restriction, and it is unclear whether the ban applies only to Ruben Vardanyan or to other Armenian prisoners as well.

She also reported that religious symbols have been taken away from prisoners and that they are not allowed to keep them in their cells. In some cases, Sahakyan said, the situation has gone even further, with religious tattoos allegedly being burned.

In her assessment, these actions suggest that the Christian identity of the Armenian prisoners may be worsening their situation and making efforts to address their cases more difficult. She warned that the combination of legal delays, isolation, and religious discrimination raises serious human rights concerns that require international attention.

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