It Turns Out That Tortures Against Captured Armenian Military-Political Elite Are Not Within the Ombudsman's Mandate

The newspaper "Zhoghovurd" reports that they recently submitted an inquiry to the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Anahit Manasyan, with the following questions: "The legal team of Ruben Vardanyan, illegally detained in a Baku prison, submitted a comprehensive application on June 13 to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, presenting horrific evidence of torture. There is certainly no doubt that torture is being inflicted on other Armenian prisoners as well. Your response to the issue of torture against Armenian citizens was weak and general (12 days after the application). Was the delay in your response influenced by statements made by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan regarding Armenian figures from Artsakh (in particular, his comments about the 'feudal elite of Nagorno-Karabakh'), representatives of the ruling 'Civil Contract' party, and pro-government experts (for instance, the assessments by Daniel Ioannisyan)? If not, how do you explain those coincidences? In addition to the general assessment that 'this situation is unacceptable and should receive proper acknowledgment from the international community', do you plan to take any actions through the tools of the Ombudsman's institution regarding torture against Armenian citizens in Baku prisons? Please specify when and what exact actions you plan to undertake."

We received the following response from Anahit Manasyan's office: "In response to your inquiry, we inform you that the Human Rights Defender is an independent official who monitors the activities of state and local self-government bodies and officials, as well as the improvement of normative legal acts related to the restoration of human rights and freedoms in cases prescribed by the 'Constitutional Law on the Human Rights Defender'. In this context, we would like to emphasize that the institution of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia has the highest internationally recognized level of independence, classified as 'A'. The Human Rights Defender is not constrained in voicing any issue within the scope of their mandate. In response to your question, we inform you that the issue raised is outside the mandate of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia. At the same time, Ombudsman Anahit Manasyan continually raises issues related to the fundamental rights of both Ruben Vardanyan and other ethnically Armenian individuals deprived of their freedom in communications with international partners and in various formats."

After the urgent application from Ruben Vardanyan’s international legal team to the UN Committee Against Torture, the Ombudsman has been communicating with international partners, calling for effective measures to guarantee the fundamental rights of Ruben Vardanyan and to ensure compliance with legal procedures. Communications on these issues are confidential and not subject to publication."

Anahit Manasyan seems to be involved only in applications and communications, but we do not see reports from the Ombudsman on her work. In Armenia, the Ombudsman may be one of the most silent and seemingly dormant bodies, which often does not even condemn the use of force within its own country, let alone see statements regarding prisoners in Azerbaijan.