Ruben Vardanyan Attempted to Contact Azerbaijani Ombudsman, Call was Abruptly Cut Off

On March 13, during a phone conversation with his family, Ruben Vardanyan attempted to make a public appeal to Azerbaijani Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva, but the call was abruptly cut off, according to a statement from Vardanyan's family.

“Ruben Vardanyan was forced to take this step because attempts to contact the Ombudsman through a lawyer, with written applications and phone calls over the previous 10 days resulted in no outcomes.

The hearings concluded a month ago; however, neither Ruben nor, as far as we know, the other Armenian prisoners have received the text of their official sentences in any language—Russian, Armenian, or Azerbaijani. They do not know on what charges they have been convicted, or when or where they will be transferred.

We are deeply concerned about the current situation. The lack of credible information regarding his and the other Armenian captives' conditions, along with the elimination of independent human rights mechanisms in Azerbaijan, including the withdrawal of the International Committee of the Red Cross from the country, deprives all captives of any institutional protection.

We are also worried that even short phone conversations—the only remaining means of communication—may be interrupted. We are publishing the audio recording of Ruben's appeal to Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva, which he was not allowed to complete. We hope it reaches its intended recipient,” the statement added.