Ruben Vardanyan Transferred to the Baku Umbaki Penitentiary Complex

The head of the Center for International and Comparative Law, Siranush Sahakyan, stated in an interview with News that, according to information received from Ruben Vardanyan’s family, he has been transferred from the investigative isolation facility of the National Security Service (NSS) to the Umbaki penitentiary complex in the Garadag district of Baku. Other Armenian detainees have also been moved to this facility.

Sahakyan noted that the situation is concerning, as there is a lack of transparency regarding the conditions of detention in the new facility. Guarantees of international law are being violated, as family members were not informed in advance about the location of the transfer, its duration, and possible changes.

There is also a lack of reliable information regarding the health status of the detainees and the accessibility of medical assistance. Since the cessation of the ICRC’s activities in Azerbaijan last September, definitive information has been scarce, although phone calls with families are still maintained.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has mandated Azerbaijan to provide the sentences of detainees by August 31. This decision could serve as a catalyst for the provision of those documents.

At the same time, this does not mean that by not providing the sentences, Azerbaijan can close the door to international courts. On the contrary, in such a situation, we can ascertain that domestic legal remedies are ineffective, and under such conditions, the calculation of deadlines for appealing to the ECHR begins from the moment the judicial acts are actually received,” Sahakyan added.