Vardanyan’s wife seeks support for humanitarian visit to Armenian prisoners in Baku

(Horizon Media / YEREVAN) – Veronika Zonabend, the wife of former Artsakh State Minister Ruben Vardanyan, has launched an initiative to organize an international women’s humanitarian delegation to Baku to visit Armenian prisoners held by Azerbaijan.

Zonabend has appealed to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for information on any coordination, practical assistance or security support that the Armenian government could provide. She has also addressed letters to Azerbaijan’s Human Rights Commissioner Sabina Aliyeva, the International Committee of the Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, and the EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.

The proposed delegation would seek meetings with the Armenian detainees, deliver letters, photographs and other permitted personal belongings from their families, and obtain information about their health and conditions of detention.

Zonabend stressed that the initiative is exclusively humanitarian and must be organized openly through official and diplomatic channels. She said clear guarantees would be required concerning the delegation’s entry into Azerbaijan, access to the prisoners and the safe return of its members.

“For people held in prolonged detention, such an initiative is of great importance,” Zonabend said, emphasizing the right of families to know what is happening to their loved ones and to assure them that they have not been forgotten.

Given the Pashinyan government’s near-total absence of meaningful action on behalf of the Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan, it appears unlikely that Yerevan will provide serious assistance. Nevertheless, the initiative offers the Armenian authorities an opportunity to finally do the right thing by extending practical and diplomatic support, seeking security guarantees and pressing for access to the detainees.

A Baku court sentenced Vardanyan to 20 years in prison. Former Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan and several former military and political officials received life sentences, while former presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan were each sentenced to 20 years. Several other Armenian detainees received prison terms ranging from 15 to 19 years.