Health Conditions of Bako Sahakyan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and Ruben Vardanyan Have Deteriorated: "Zhoghovurd"

The political and military leadership of Artsakh has been unlawfully detained in Baku for nearly a year. This was reported by the newspaper "Zhoghovurd." Following Azerbaijan's illegal military actions against Artsakh in September 2023, the country detained former presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arayik Harutyunyan, former Prime Minister Ruben Vardanyan, former Foreign Minister Davit Babayan, National Assembly Speaker Davit Ishkhanyan, former commander of the Artsakh Defense Army Levon Mnatsakanyan, and General Davit Manukyan on fabricated charges. They are currently held as hostages in a Baku prison.

During this time, multiple reports have emerged regarding the deterioration of the health of the Artsakh officials detained in Baku. According to highly informed sources from "Zhoghovurd," in recent days, the health conditions of former Artsakh presidents Bako Sahakyan, Arayik Harutyunyan, former Prime Minister Ruben Vardanyan, and former commander Levon Mnatsakanyan have sharply deteriorated, indicating inhumane treatment and gross violations of international norms in Baku's prisons.

Reports indicate that Levon Mnatsakanyan is experiencing serious issues related to diabetes, exacerbated by the conditions in Baku's prison. Former president Bako Sahakyan has serious blood pressure and cardiovascular problems. Ruben Vardanyan's family announced back in April that he has been on a hunger strike, demanding the immediate release of all Armenian prisoners. Due to the hunger strike and poor detention conditions, Ruben Vardanyan's health has also worsened. Meanwhile, Arayik Harutyunyan, during a conversation with family members, indicated that they should lose hope about their return and live without them.

"Zhoghovurd" inquired with Zara Amatuni, head of communication programs for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Armenia, about the last time the delegates visited the Artsakh officials held in Baku and their health conditions. "ICRC staff have continued to periodically meet with all Armenians detained in Azerbaijan. Among those detained are individuals whose names have been confirmed to our organization by the Azerbaijani authorities. The last such meeting with these individuals took place in July, and, of course, their health conditions and treatment, along with their detention conditions, have remained our focus. However, our organization cannot comment on all this publicly, as, according to procedure, urgent current or general issues related to these matters are discussed only with authorities and their family members. The only thing I can add is that during our delegates' visits, each individual is given the opportunity to contact their relatives," said Amatuni. Hopeful that our publication will not go unanswered in international forums.