Statement: Davit Ishkhanian Appeals to the Armenian Human Rights Defender from Baku Prison

Davit Ishkhanian has appealed to the Armenian Human Rights Defender from Baku prison. In a voice message, he stated:

“We learned from the media that Ruben Vardanyan has appealed to the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia to visit him. I do not know if the esteemed defender will have the responsibility and decisiveness to visit and see us, and in that case, he will have more detailed information and will become acquainted with how the entire investigation has proceeded, what serious and gross violations have taken place in both the entire investigation and the trial, with gross violations of human rights, international law, and international norms, including the procedural gross violations of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

I was unable to fully express my statement at the end of the trial during my last words; I was not allowed to finish my speech at least 30-40%. But I managed to say what I now want to say to my people, and I would like to quote: “This case is not opened against 15 individuals; this case is opened against the Armenian people and the Armenian statehood, with clear objectives and long-term strategies. I had doubts about this during the investigation, and throughout the trial, it became my conviction. The truth of my thoughts and words will be shown by time.”

As for the Azerbaijani Human Rights Defender, Sabina Aliyeva visited us yesterday, and we were able to convey certain information to her. I prepared an application letter for her to pass on since March 12, but for various reasons, I have not been able to see her or pass it on for about a month or two. I handed over my application letter yesterday, and I had one clear request: for her to mediate and provide the complete texts of our verdict in both Azerbaijani and Armenian to my family and relatives.

The Human Rights Defender promised that she would deliver the Azerbaijani version to my family and try to mediate. Regarding the Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia, I now wish to appeal verbally to him so that he can mediate and obtain the full texts of our accusation acts in Armenian and Azerbaijani from the relevant structures in Azerbaijan and perhaps from his colleague and pass them on to my family and relatives.

As for these difficult times, I only wish our people strength of spirit, will, and unity, and I must say: stay strong.”