STATEMENT BY RUBEN VARDANYAN

STATEMENT BY RUBEN VARDANYAN

addressed to the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia, Anahit Manasyan

(conveyed during a telephone conversation with family)

“Dear Ms. Manasyan,

I am writing to you from detention, in connection with circumstances that, in my view, call for the active and sustained engagement of the institution you lead.

I recently had a meeting with the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva. During that meeting, I raised a number of specific concerns — relating to everyday conditions, medical care, legal matters, humanitarian needs, and diplomatic issues — regarding the conditions of detention of myself and other Armenian prisoners. These are matters that directly affect the safety, health, and dignity of people held in custody. In the course of our conversation, it was also mentioned that the possibility of your visit to Baku had already been discussed, and that the Azerbaijani side had expressed readiness to facilitate such a visit. However, this initiative has not yet been acted upon.

Citizens of the Republic of Armenia have been held in Azerbaijani prisons for an extended period of time — without visits from their families and without independent monitoring, including by the ICRC. In these circumstances, the institution mandated to protect the rights of Armenian citizens has demonstrated a complete absence of initiative. Despite the lack of diplomatic relations between the two countries, economic negotiations are currently taking place, with Armenian representatives physically present in Baku. Why, then, are questions of the life, health, and rights of prisoners not part of the official Yerevan agenda — and why has not a single member of any delegation ever visited the detainees?

In light of the above, I urge you to consider organizing a visit to Baku with your participation, and, under appropriate conditions, with the participation of relatives of Armenian prisoners as well. My wife, Veronika Zonabend, has expressed her readiness to take part in such a trip, as have, in all likelihood, representatives of other families. Any such delegation must have an institutional and consistent character, with the political backing of the Prime Minister of Armenia, who bears responsibility before the citizens of his country.

The issues I raised with the Azerbaijani Ombudsman require coordination between the ombudsmen of both countries. The absence of such coordination constitutes a de facto denial of the only available humanitarian channel.

In this regard, I ask you to provide a public response to the following questions:

1. Is there consideration being given to organizing an official visit to Baku by a delegation that includes relatives of Armenian prisoners?

2. How does your institution plan to coordinate with the Azerbaijani Ombudsman on humanitarian matters concerning citizens of the Republic of Armenia?

3. What measures has your office already taken to protect the rights of Armenian prisoners since the time of their detention?

I believe that in the current situation it is critically important to urgently engage all available humanitarian and legal mechanisms. The failure of the Government of Armenia to act in the interests of its own citizens unlawfully held in Azerbaijan is incompatible with the obligations of the state towards its people.

Ruben Vardanyan”