Armenian Prisoners Subjected to Brutal Treatment in Baku, MP Appeals to International Bodies

MP Taguhi Tovmasyan has stated on her Facebook page: “I have sent letters to about 40 international organizations and my international colleagues regarding the Armenian prisoners held in Baku, Azerbaijan. All international humanitarian norms are being violated in this matter.

As a representative of the Armenian parliament engaged in human rights protection, I receive alarming reports about the conditions of detention of 23 officially confirmed Armenian prisoners held in a Baku prison. Unfortunately, there is no international access to them except for the monthly one-time visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross and limited information available.

Even during calls with their family members, the prisoners only provide very general information, failing to specify their conditions of detention. On June 13 of this year, the international legal team for prisoner Ruben Vardanyan submitted a request to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, reporting on torture and brutal treatment.

Recently, troubling details were shared in the media by the wife of Vigen Euljekyan, an Armenian from Lebanon, captured in 2021. There is no doubt that ethnically Armenian prisoners are subjected to torture and inhumane treatment. Several of these cases have been documented and reported to the UN Committee Against Torture at the end of April 2024.

The measures of restraint for eight public political figures from Nagorno-Karabakh have been extended without any grounds. Instead of the previous four months, their detention period was extended by five months in May. Azerbaijan’s Prosecutor General announced days ago that the cases have already been sent to the court, but there has been no progress on this issue.

In this context, Azerbaijan is preparing for COP29, dubbing it the “Peace COP.” Considering all these concerns, I have asked my international colleagues to demand the following from Azerbaijan within the framework of their mandate: to release Armenian prisoners and hostages before the COP29 is held if they truly wish for it to be a “Peace COP.” In the event of illegal trials, to ensure that they adhere to global legal standards and allow international observers and media to participate in them as well.”