Urgent Warning: Armenian POW’s Life at Risk as Health Rapidly Deteriorates in Azerbaijani Custody

An Armenian prisoner of war held in Azerbaijan is facing a serious medical emergency, with his lawyer warning that his life is at risk as he remains behind bars without access to independent medical care.

Attorney Luciana Minassian said newly released medical records show that Lyudvig Mkrtchyan, who was captured during the 2020 war, has developed multiple heart conditions, including left ventricular hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction and aortic regurgitation. His blood tests also revealed a white blood cell count of 14.27, nearly twice the normal level, raising concerns about a significant inflammatory condition or infection.

According to Minassian, Mkrtchyan continues to suffer from severe headaches, dizziness, chest pain and dangerously high blood pressure. Despite those symptoms, prison officials have reportedly continued to describe his condition as stable.

"This is deliberate medical neglect of a 2020 POW," Minassian said.

She said the International Committee of the Red Cross no longer has access to Mkrtchyan and that he has not received adequate medical treatment. She called on the United Nations and international human rights organizations to act immediately, warning that further delays could have fatal consequences.

Mkrtchyan and fellow Armenian prisoner of war Alyosha Khosrovyan were sentenced by an Azerbaijani court in August 2021 to 20 years in prison on charges related to the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. Their continued imprisonment has been criticized by human rights advocates, who argue that holding the two men years after the end of the 2020 war violates international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions governing the treatment and release of prisoners of war.

Concerns over Mkrtchyan's health have drawn increasing international attention. In January, the Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief sent a letter to U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, describing his prolonged imprisonment and lack of proper medical care as a serious violation of Azerbaijan's international obligations. His wife, Hranush Shahbazyan, has also appealed to the international community to help secure his release and ensure he receives urgent medical treatment.

"Lyudvig Mkrtchyan is fighting for his life in prison," Minassian said.

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