Ruben Vardanyan’s wife to lead humanitarian mission to Baku to visit Armenian hostages

(Horizon Media) – Former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan’s wife, Veronika Zonabend, has announced plans to lead an international women’s humanitarian delegation to Baku in the coming weeks in an effort to visit Armenian detainees held in Azerbaijan, including her husband.

In a public statement, Zonabend said the initiative is being undertaken at Vardanyan’s request and aims to restore humanitarian contact with Armenian prisoners who have been cut off from their families following the closure of the International Committee of the Red Cross office in Baku.

She said 19 Armenians remain imprisoned in Azerbaijan, many of whom have been unable to communicate with loved ones for years or receive letters, photographs or personal items. Describing the situation as a humanitarian issue rather than a political one, Zonabend said that existing international mechanisms have failed to provide meaningful access to the detainees.

Zonabend called on Azerbaijan’s Human Rights Commissioner, Sabina Aliyeva, to facilitate the delegation’s visit, arrange access to the Armenian prisoners held at Umbaki Penitentiary Complex, and allow the transfer of family packages, letters and photographs in accordance with Azerbaijani law.

As part of the initiative, supporters are being invited to submit letters of solidarity to the Armenian detainees over the next two weeks, with organizers hoping to deliver them during the planned visit. Zonabend said the names of the women participating in the delegation will be announced at a later date.

Vardanyan has been illegally held in Azerbaijani custody since September 2023 and was convicted alongside other Armenian detainees in show proceedings that lacked due process.