Ruben Vardanyan's Family Reports Torture in Prison Following His Illegal Detention in Baku

The family of former Artsakh state minister Ruben Vardanyan has issued a statement: "According to information received by the detainee's family and his international lawyers, during the hunger strike in April, Ruben was placed in a punishment cell, deprived of sleep and water, and forbidden from communicating with his family. We still do not know how these tortures have affected his physical and mental state.

From April 5 to April 25, Ruben declared a hunger strike in protest against the illegal detention of himself and other Armenian prisoners, as well as politically motivated persecution. In response, the management of the investigation isolation facility of the Artsakh State Security Service, where Ruben is currently held, transferred him to a punishment cell and did not release him during the entire hunger strike.

The lights in the punishment cell were kept on 24/7, leading to exhaustion and other health problems. Additionally, Ruben was forced to stand for long periods and was deprived of water for two or more days. The prisoner was not allowed to wash or change his linens and clothing; he was denied toilet paper and was not allowed to read or write. This horrific picture was compounded by the fact that during the hunger strike, no one was allowed to visit Ruben – neither his lawyer nor the local ombudsman. The detainee's communication with the outside world was cut off – he could not speak on the phone with his family.

Today, Ruben Vardanyan's team of international lawyers sent an urgent appeal to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, calling for condemnation of the brutal treatment of Ruben Vardanyan by the Azerbaijani government. "We were shocked to learn what horrors my father has endured. It is terrifying to think what is happening to other, less-known detainees in Azerbaijan who, unlike my father, do not receive international support. Inhumane treatment of political prisoners in Azerbaijan, whether they are Armenian, Azerbaijani, or of any other nationality, must come to an end. We urge the UN to hold the Azerbaijani government accountable and help protect my father's life," said Ruben Vardanyan's eldest son, David."