Please consider the visit of you and the relatives of the Armenian prisoners to Baku. my wife Patras

During a telephone conversation with his family, Ruben Vardanyan, who is in prison in Baku, conveyed a message to Anahit Manasyan, RA human rights defender.

“Dear Mrs. Manasyan,

I am addressing you from prison, taking into account a number of circumstances, which I think require the active and consistent involvement of the institution you lead.

Recently, I met with the ombudsman of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva. During the meeting, I raised a number of specific domestic, medical, legal, humanitarian and diplomatic issues that related to the conditions of detention of me and other Armenian prisoners. These issues directly affect the safety, health and dignity of those in custody. During our conversation, the Azerbaijani ombudsman mentioned that he has already discussed with you the possibility of visiting Baku, and the Azerbaijani side has expressed readiness to contribute to its organization. However, this initiative has not yet been implemented.

RA citizens are kept in Azeri prisons for a long time, without meetings with family members and independent monitoring, including by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Under these conditions, the institution responsible for the protection of the rights of RA citizens does not show any initiative.

Despite the lack of diplomatic relations between the countries, negotiations on economic issues are underway with the participation of RA representatives in Baku. Therefore, why are the issues of life, health and rights of detainees not on the official agenda of Yerevan, and why did none of the members of the delegation visit the prisoners?

Considering the above, I ask you to consider the possibility of you, as well as, in case of appropriate conditions, the relatives of other Armenian prisoners visiting Baku. My wife, Veronika Zonabend, is ready to participate in such an initiative and visit Baku. Probably the family members of other prisoners will also be ready. Such a delegation should be institutional and consistent, having the political support of the RA Prime Minister, who is accountable to the citizens.

The issues I raised before the ombudsman of Azerbaijan require coordination between the ombudsmen of the two countries. The lack of such coordination actually closes the only humanitarian channel.

In this regard, I ask you to publicly answer the following questions.

1. Is the possibility of organizing a visit of the official delegation to Baku with the participation of relatives of Armenian prisoners discussed?

2. How does your institution plan to coordinate work with the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan on humanitarian issues concerning the citizens of Armenia?

3. What measures has the institution you lead taken to protect the rights of Armenian prisoners since the arrest?

I think that in the current situation it is extremely important to immediately launch all possible humanitarian and legal mechanisms. Ignoring the interests of RA citizens illegally detained in Azerbaijan by the RA government is incompatible with the state’s obligations towards its own citizens.

Ruben Vardanyan”.

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