Attorney Preparing U.N. Case as Armenian POW Ludwig Mkrtchyan Remains Cut Off From Family in Baku Prison

INTERVIEW: More than 40 days after Armenian prisoner of war Ludwig Mkrtchyan last spoke with his family, his attorney says she is preparing to take the case to the United Nations as Azerbaijani authorities remain silent over repeated humanitarian requests.

Attorney Luciana Minassian told The Armenian Report that she is preparing to pursue Mkrtchyan's case before the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) following the lack of response to her recent appeal to Azerbaijan's Commissioner for Human Rights, Sabina Aliyeva.

She told The Armenian Report that she is now seeking the documents needed to begin work on a petition to the U.N. body. According to Minassian, Azerbaijan's failure to respond could strengthen the legal case, pointing to a similar situation during her work with Spanish human rights lawyer Aitor Martínez Jiménez on behalf of Armenian detainee Vicken Euljekjian, where the authorities' lack of cooperation became an additional element in proceedings before the U.N. Working Group.

In addition to preparing the international legal filing, Minassian said she plans to request permission to travel to Baku to visit Mkrtchyan in prison.

The latest development comes after Minassian appealed for urgent humanitarian intervention, asking Azerbaijani authorities to arrange a supervised phone call between Mkrtchyan and his wife, Hranush Shahbazyan, and to ensure he receives immediate medical examination and treatment.

According to the attorney, Mkrtchyan's condition has deteriorated significantly. Medical information cited in the appeal indicates a white blood cell count of 14.27, nearly twice the normal range, suggesting widespread inflammation. The documents also reference left ventricular hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction and aortic insufficiency, as well as recurring fainting, headaches, dizziness and chest pain.

Shahbazyan last spoke with her husband on June 19. During that conversation, Mkrtchyan told her he had collapsed after suffering severe weakness and had been taken for a cardiac examination. According to Minassian, the family has received no diagnosis or official explanation regarding his condition since that call.

Mkrtchyan, 56, has been held in a prison in Baku for nearly six years.

According to official figures, 19 Armenian prisoners remain in Azerbaijani custody, including the former political and military leaders of Artsakh, many of whom have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 15 to 20 years or life imprisonment.

Lawyers representing the detainees and international human rights advocates have repeatedly called on Azerbaijan to provide information about the prisoners' health, ensure access to legal counsel and family members, and uphold its obligations under international humanitarian law.

The Armenian Report will continue following Mkrtchyan's case and report on further developments as they emerge.

—

Support independent reporting from the region by subscribing to The Armenian Report. Our team is funded solely by readers like you.