Relatives and representatives of Armenian prisoners held illegally in Azerbaijan have written to RA Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis, as well as President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Miryana Spoliarich Eger, with a request to launch the mechanism of “Patronizing Power” within the framework of international humanitarian law. This was reported by the Center for International and Comparative Law, whose head is Siranush Sahakyan, representative of the interests of Armenian prisoners at the ECHR.

“We, the relatives and representatives of Armenian prisoners held illegally in Azerbaijan, express our deep concern regarding the complete closure of the office of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Azerbaijan. This has significantly worsened the already dire situation of our relatives, leaving us in deep uncertainty about their fate and whereabouts.

Taking into account the above and recalling the obligations defined in the framework of international humanitarian law, we, with all respect, but also firmly call on Armenia to officially appeal to the government of the Swiss Confederation, so that the Swiss side assumes the role of “Patron Power”. This is a necessary and urgent step to ensure the protection of the rights, safety and dignity of our relatives through internationally recognized mechanisms.

We realize that the institution of “Patronizing Power” has not been used in recent decades and may seem unusual in today’s context, but the exceptional and illegal circumstances we are dealing with require just such exceptional measures. “Azerbaijan continues to keep Armenian prisoners isolated from their families, independent lawyers and impartial humanitarian organizations, which is a gross violation of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions of 1949,” the letter states.

Noting that at least 19 people are currently being held in Baku, their relatives report that this situation has led to a serious vacuum in the protection of rights, creating high risks of violence, ill-treatment and even enforced disappearance.

“Given these urgent and extraordinary circumstances, as well as Switzerland’s status as the host state of the ICRC and a major supporter of international humanitarian law, we respectfully request:

The Government of the Republic of Armenia to officially appeal to the Government of the Swiss Confederation to assume the role of “Patronizing Power” in relation to all Armenian prisoners held by Azerbaijan.

To the Government of the Swiss Confederation to grant Armenia’s request and act as a “Protecting Power”, protecting the rights and dignity of prisoners as much as possible.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, as a substitute for the “Patron Power”, to support this appointment and assist Switzerland in the performance of its functions.

Time is of crucial importance. Continued delay may exacerbate the suffering of illegally detained persons and increase threats to their lives and physical integrity. Therefore, we call on the governments of the Republic of Armenia and Switzerland to take appropriate steps within the scope of their mandate, and to do it at the right time. In addition, we ask the International Committee of the Red Cross to support it in order to ensure the effective application of international law and the proper protection of the rights of ethnic Armenians in the conditions of ongoing violations,” the letter states.

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As a result of large-scale activities carried out by the RA Anti-Corruption Committee, factual information was obtained that a group of people intended to distribute electoral bribes in order to vote for them in the council elections held in Vagharshapat community of Armavir region of RA. The Anti-Corruption Committee informs about this.

“In order to carry out the criminal intention, the members of the group recruited mainly members of the Republican Party of Armenia, who had wide connections and many acquaintances among the public. As a result, more than five dozen people were promised electoral bribes in the amount of AMD 50,000 each, on the condition that they vote for the candidate of the “Homeland” party in the elections.

In order to complete the crime and for this purpose to fully control the process, the members of the group made a clear distribution of roles, made lists of recruited voters, and on the day of the election were in telephone contact with the recruited citizens.

As a result of the search, documents containing handwritten notes on the persons who accepted the offer to receive election bribes and assisted in paying election bribes, lists of voters and polling stations were found and taken.

62 persons were arrested and public prosecutions were instituted in criminal proceedings, some of whom pleaded guilty to the charges and gave confessions. The proceedings against some of the accused were dismissed and sent to the court with an indictment,” says the message.

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The ongoing war against Iran finally proves that there is no longer any international law in the world.

Attacks on Iranian educational, medical and pharmaceutical institutions are generally new phenomena, which show that the “laws of the jungle” are now operating in the world, however painful it may be.

The murders of the political leadership of another state and “being proud” of it also indicate that the world has entered a new and extremely dangerous period.

If an individual blows up a school, university, pharmaceutical institute and a bridge or kills the leader of a country, then he is certainly a terrorist, but when the same thing is done at the state level, he is not condemned even in international courts.

These “wolf laws” make countries that have relatively limited defense resources much more vulnerable, so, strange as it may seem, even more states in the world will start thinking about guaranteeing their own security by creating nuclear weapons.

Iranologist Vardan Voskanyan

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On April 2, 2026, criminal proceedings were initiated in connection with the incident that took place at the military training ground of the Ministry of Defense: violating the rules of dealing with weapons, munitions, military equipment or other military property, materials, devices or objects that pose a greater threat to the environment, part 3 of Article 550 (military official negligence that caused the death of a person through carelessness) and part 3 of Article 532 of the Criminal Code. which negligently caused the death of a person) with characteristics.

This is reported by the Central Committee.

The contract soldier died. During the preliminary investigation, a number of urgent investigative and other administrative actions were performed.

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Davit Minasyan, a schoolboy detained in connection with the Nikol Pashinyan incident, is being transferred to the “Abovyan” prison instead of being transferred to the hospital. This was reported by lawyer Lusine Martirosyan.

“Yesterday, lawyer Varduhi Elbakyan visited him in the afternoon. He was not feeling well, that’s why we went to him again at night. There were complaints again, of course, there are diseases that I simply cannot publish, and we didn’t even know that he had some surgeries,” said the defense attorney.

Lusine Martirosyan said why they decided to move the “Abovyan” prison, where there is a colony for both minors and women, the reason is to ensure the right to education. The authorities are trying to create an illusion that they are ensuring the detainee’s right to education.

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The condition of 18-year-old Davit Minasyan, who was detained for two months after the incident in the Saint Anna Church, has deteriorated sharply in the “Abovyan” prison. He is currently being transferred to the hospital.

Lawyer Lusine Martirosyan said that she is not aware of which hospital Davit is being taken to.

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A number of lawyers and politicians organized a protest in front of the General Prosecutor’s Office today, April 3.

Previously, they issued a statement that stated: “We demand to initiate criminal prosecution against the management of the Public Broadcasting Commission and the management of the H1 public TV channel, because they, in violation of the existing legislation, have become the mouthpiece of the ruling party’s propaganda, promoting this party’s point of view and promoting it in every possible way, at the same time sowing discord and hatred towards the Armenian Apostolic Church, hindering the expression of the real opposition and illegally covering the election campaign of the ruling party, thus violating all possible legislative acts”.

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The Armenian government intends to create regional transport networks throughout the country. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced this during his visit to the Metsamor community of Armavir region.

“Our vision is that we should have regional transport networks,” said Pashinyan.
The Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Davit Khudatyan detailed that the transport network is already fully implemented in both marzes. We are talking about Kotayk and Aragatsotn marzes.

“The network is fully operational in Vagharshapat region as well. At the moment, the creation of a transport network in Ararat marz is in progress, which we will finish by the summer. The works in Gegharkunik marz are also in progress and will be completed in May-June,” said the minister.

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On the initiative of the “Mendia Resources” company and the Union of Geologists of Armenia, the Professional Day of the Geologist was celebrated in Armenia under the title “Son of the Mountains”.

Heads of state departments, representatives of embassies, scientists, officials of partner organizations and specialists in the field participated in the event.

The main goal was to identify the problems in the sector and discuss ways to solve them through effective dialogue between the public and private sectors. Such cooperation, as mentioned, will contribute to making mutually beneficial and sustainable decisions.

Several memorandums of cooperation were signed during the event. In particular, between the Union of Geologists of Armenia and the Environmental Protection and Subsoil Inspection Body, between the Union of Geologists of Armenia and “Mendia Resources” LLC, as well as between “Mendia Resources” and the Canadian company “Hayasa Metals”.

At the end of the celebration, RA Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Asatur Vardanyan awarded geologists with many years of experience and significant contribution in the field.

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