Human Rights Defender on the Deterioration of Ruben Vardanyan's Health and Torture

All actors with a mandate in the sector must take prompt and proper actions to address the issue. This was stated to Armenpress by the Office of the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia, referring to the ongoing processes regarding Armenians illegally deprived of freedom in Azerbaijan, particularly the deterioration of Ruben Vardanyan's health and reports of torture.

“Concerned information has been received regarding the worsening health condition of Ruben Vardanyan and issues of torture, as a result of constant monitoring on social media. The Human Rights Defender has repeatedly stated that the processes conducted against Armenians illegally deprived of freedom in Azerbaijan are not only problematic but involve gross violations of universal human rights principles and values, as well as international legal standards.

In relation to the situation, under the instruction of Anahit Manasyan, appropriate steps have been and continue to be taken within the framework of the Human Rights Defender’s powers,” the office emphasized, noting that considering the sensitivity of the matter and the importance of the Defender’s office working under the principle of “do no harm,” they do not deem it appropriate to publicly present further details about these processes at this time.

The Defender continues to address all these issues to the actors responsible for human rights protection under his mandate. “We emphasize that all actors with a mandate in the sector must take prompt and proper actions to address the issue,” concluded the Human Rights Defender's office.