Ruben Vardanyan has issued a new statement sharply criticizing Armenia’s authorities over what he described as the absence of a systematic state policy for Armenian prisoners held in Baku, following a response from Armenia’s Human Rights Defender, Anahit Manasyan, to his appeal.
The statement, conveyed through a phone call with his family on May 7, came after Manasyan reportedly informed Vardanyan that issues concerning Armenian citizens imprisoned in Azerbaijan do not fall within the Ombudsman’s official mandate.
According to Vardanyan, the response raises serious questions for the government of Nikol Pashinyan.
“If the protection of Armenian citizens held in Azerbaijani prisons does not fall within the mandate of Armenia’s Human Rights Defender, then whose mandate is it?” he asked.
Vardanyan questioned which state institution or official is formally responsible for Armenian detainees in Baku and why neither the families of prisoners nor the broader public have been informed of any established mechanism for addressing the issue.
He stated that some Armenians have spent up to six years in Azerbaijani prisons without Armenia creating a stable communication system through third countries or international organizations.
Vardanyan also criticized what he described as the lack of organized humanitarian support, claiming that some detainees have gone more than a year without receiving parcels or essential supplies.
“People receive not what they need, but what someone decided to send. This is not assistance. These are handouts,” he said.
He specifically referenced elderly prisoners and detainees suffering from serious health conditions, arguing that aid is being distributed without regard for medical needs.
“When people who have no teeth are sent dried fruit, that is not help. That is humiliation,” he stated.
Vardanyan further questioned why Armenian officials are able to engage Azerbaijan on economic and regional matters while allegedly failing to organize visits focused on the condition, legal status, and humanitarian needs of Armenian captives.
The statement follows earlier criticism by Vardanyan accusing Pashinyan’s government of failing to prioritize the issue of Armenian prisoners following the fall of Artsakh in 2023.
He concluded by demanding that the authorities publicly identify the official responsible for the issue, disclose existing procedures, and explain what concrete steps have been taken over the past six years regarding Armenian detainees held in Baku.
