Ruben Vardanyan has called on Armenia’s Human Rights Defender to take immediate action, warning that Armenian hostages held in Azerbaijan remain without family access or independent monitoring.
In a message relayed through his family, Vardanyan urged Anahit Manasyan to organize an official visit to Baku. He proposed that the visit could include relatives of the hostages, noting that his wife, Veronika Zonabend, is willing to participate and that other families would likely join.
He stressed that the hostages have been held for a prolonged period without visits or oversight by international bodies, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, and criticized the lack of visible steps by Armenian institutions. He questioned why their rights have not been raised in ongoing contacts with Azerbaijan, despite the presence of Armenian representatives in Baku.
According to the statement, Vardanyan recently raised concerns about detention conditions, medical care, and legal protections during a meeting with Azerbaijan’s Ombudsman, who indicated readiness to facilitate such a visit, though no concrete follow-up has been reported.
He emphasized the need for direct coordination between the ombudsmen of Armenia and Azerbaijan, warning that without it, one of the few remaining humanitarian channels is effectively nonfunctional.
Vardanyan requested a public response on whether a visit is being pursued, how coordination will be handled, and what measures have been taken to protect the hostages, urging the activation of all available humanitarian and legal mechanisms.
