Ruben Vardanyan Says Armenian Prisoners in Baku Are Being Denied Rights Guaranteed Under Azerbaijani Law

Ruben Vardanyan, the former state minister of Artsakh imprisoned in Azerbaijan, has appealed to the country’s human rights commissioner, alleging that Armenian prisoners held in Baku are being denied rights guaranteed under Azerbaijani law.

Vardanyan addressed the Sept. 16 appeal to Human Rights Commissioner Sabina Aliyeva, who had previously expressed a willingness to assist with protecting the rights of convicted Armenian citizens. The statement was made public through Vardanyan’s Facebook page.

Vardanyan is being held at the Umbaki penitentiary complex with 18 other Armenian citizens. In his appeal, he pointed to Azerbaijan’s Code on the Execution of Punishments and a booklet on prisoners’ rights that Aliyeva’s office distributed to the Armenian detainees in April.

He said those protections should apply to all prisoners regardless of the charges against them, their nationality, religion or citizenship.

Vardanyan described a range of problems affecting the Armenian prisoners, including limited contact with their families. He said some are not permitted weekly phone calls and have no access to video calls, leaving several prisoners unable to see their children for nearly three years.

He also alleged that prisoners cannot undergo medical examinations even if they are prepared to cover the cost themselves. Notary services needed to give relatives power of attorney have also been denied, he said, while written requests and complaints have gone unanswered.

Exercise is another issue raised in the appeal. Vardanyan said prisoners are allowed 20 to 40 minutes of physical activity once a week, rather than the one hour a day provided for under Azerbaijani regulations.

The situation has become more difficult since the International Committee of the Red Cross ended its operations in Azerbaijan, according to Vardanyan. He said the prisoners lost an important channel for communicating with their families and that most no longer receive parcels. Some also lack money to buy food from the prison shop or pay for phone calls.

Vardanyan said his wife, Veronika Zonabend, has offered to travel to Baku to meet with Aliyeva and the imprisoned Armenians. She has also sought permission to deliver nearly 1,000 letters, along with parcels and essential supplies.

According to Vardanyan, those requests have received no response, and Azerbaijani authorities have not proposed another way to deliver the items.

He urged Aliyeva to visit the Armenian prisoners and ensure that the protections set out in Azerbaijani law are being followed.

“It does not matter how much longer we will remain in Umbaki,” Vardanyan said. “Please follow your own laws.”

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